Broken promise

A recent article on a Chabad website discussed a complaint from Lubavitch soldiers who were promised by the army that they could take mivkahs daily, as is customary in Chabad, but as it turned out the army broke its promise and doesn't allow it.

This week I learned that a Chabad bochur from a family I know had been promised that he took that he could wear white shirt and black points in his army support job. Yet, in the end, the army makes him and his colleagues wear the goyish green army fatigues. 

So please know, the army lies all the time in its promises to Haredi soldiers. And once you are in, you are stuck for three years, being pressured to violate Shabbos, to sit in small transport vehicles with pretty young women, etc. 

https://chabadinfo.com/news/the-new-charedi-brigade-chashmonaim-dismisses-chabad-soldiers-over-mikvah-dispute/

In recent days, a controversy has erupted within the ranks of the Chabad soldiers who enlisted a few weeks ago in the newly established Charedi military brigade, ‘Hashmonaim.’ • Full Story

Several soldiers approached their commanders requesting the establishment of a kosher mikveh (ritual bath) on the base, allowing them to continue the Chabad custom of immersion before prayer. They were assured during recruitment that their Charedi way of life would be respected, with promises to “leave the army the same as they entered.” Despite persistent appeals, the soldiers were met with a firm rejection.

To their dismay, the brigade’s leadership took further action, summoning the soldiers to a disciplinary hearing for their insistence on maintaining the practice, potentially leading to their removal from the unit. The soldiers pleaded for at least temporary permission to leave the base and use a mikveh in a nearby settlement, but this request was also denied.

One soldier expressed his frustration:

“It’s unreasonable that the Air Force provides swimming pools for pilots on their bases, and other units allow soldiers to use mikvehs. Yet, in a brigade that champions Charedi identity, our basic religious needs are dismissed.”

Before enlisting, senior military officials had assured recruits that the new brigade would respect and preserve the Charedi/Chassidic lifestyle. Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Amir Baram had declared on the first day of enlistment:

“We will safeguard the Charedi way of life for our soldiers—there is no contradiction between devout Judaism and combat service. This is a strategic necessity, and the ranks must expand.”

Brigade Commander Avinoam Emunah also promised:

“The brigade will allow the Charedi public to enlist while maintaining its identity.”

The soldiers acknowledged that immersion might not be feasible during field training or operational missions. However, they argue that in a training base where significant investments have been made, there is no justification for denying them a mikveh.

A senior figure in the matter commented:

“It is deeply regrettable that what could have been a flagship initiative to bridge gaps between the military and the Charedi/Chassidic public has, at such an early stage, become a disappointment for the students and those who trusted the process.”

Today, these soldiers are scheduled for a hearing over their “insistence” on mikveh immersion. Sources in the brigade indicate they face possible expulsion but may be reassigned to non-combat roles where they can follow their religious customs.

Following initial reports by Chabad Info, Chabad media figure Rabbi Mendy Reizel shared insights:

“To my understanding, Brigade Commander Emunah supported, at least tacitly, accommodating the soldiers’ requests. However, General Zini opposed it, citing security concerns. It’s ironic that Zini fails to address the prohibited use of smartphones in the brigade but enforces a ban on mikveh immersion.”

Reizel added:

“It seems likely the brigade will opt to transfer these soldiers to other roles rather than dismiss them entirely, allowing them to immerse in a mikveh and maintain their Chassidic lifestyle.”

The Chabad Info news desk reached out to the IDF Spokesperson for a response but has yet to receive a comment. Updates will be published as they become available.