December 31, 2024|ל' כסלו ה' אלפים תשפ"ה The Debate Over Haredi Military Service: Spiritual Challenges and Opportunities for Growth By Rabbi Jonathan Muskat

The debate over whether ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) should serve in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been a contentious issue for years. Recently, United Torah Judaism (UTJ) MK Yitzhak Pindrus reignited the conversation when he stated that he could not support mandatory military service for the Haredi community, citing the “heavy price” that national religious soldiers pay — namely, the risk of “leaving religion” due to exposure to secular influences. His comments brought to the forefront the divide between Haredi and national religious communities in Israel, raising important questions about spiritual resilience, Jewish identity, and the evolving role of the IDF in modern Jewish life.

The Fear of Losing Religious Identity in Military Service

Pindrus’s remarks reflect a common concern within the Haredi leadership: that serving in the military could erode religious observance. Historically, the army has been seen as a threat to religious life, particularly for those exposed to the secular world. The fear is that military service, with its secular environment, could lead soldiers to abandon their religious practices. For many Haredim, Torah study and religious observance are central to Jewish life, and the secular influences of the army are viewed as a significant challenge to maintaining these commitments.

The National Religious Perspective: A Call for Shared Responsibility

In contrast, the national religious community — which performs mandatory military service — believes that military duty can go hand-in-hand with religious observance. For them, serving in the IDF is not only a national obligation but also a religious one. Many in this community have made significant sacrifices, including heavy casualties in recent conflicts, to defend the state. MK Meirav Cohen of Yesh Atid criticized Pindrus's stance, pointing out the disconnect between the Haredi leadership’s views and the sacrifices made by religious Zionist soldiers. She highlighted the example of Staff Sgt. Yuval Shoham, a national religious soldier killed in the recent war, to emphasize the moral cost of refusing to share the burden of defense.

A New Perspective: Rav Rimon on the Spiritual Value of Army Service

Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon, a prominent religious leader, offers a different perspective. He believes that military service can actually enhance spiritual growth. In his recent lectures in a recent visit to a number of shuls in the United States, including at my shul, Rav Rimon emphasized that the army can be a place where soldiers deepen their religious commitment, rather than abandoning it. He spoke about numerous halachic questions that he receives from soldiers, showing how military service does not push them away from religion but, in many cases, strengthens their resolve to live a holy life.

For example, Rav Rimon shared a story of a soldier who asked whether his wife should inform him that she was pregnant while he was on a mission, fearing it might distract him and lead to a halachic violation. Another soldier, whose stronger arm had been amputated, asked whether he should now put his tefillin on his weaker arm. These questions reflect a deep commitment to halachic observance, even under difficult circumstances. Rav Rimon also spoke of soldiers asking how to light Chanukah candles in the field or while on duty, showing that religious soldiers in the army are not abandoning their faith but finding ways to live it out in challenging situations.

Rav Rimon and Rav Kook: A Shared Vision of Growth and Holiness

Rav Rimon’s view aligns with the philosophy of Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook, the founder of religious Zionism. Rav Kook taught the concept of aliyat ha-dorot — the ascent of the generations. While each generation may experience some decline in specific areas, Rav Kook believed that the collective holiness of the Jewish people is constantly growing. In his view, even if Torah observance appears to diminish in some respects, the overall sanctity of the Jewish nation is increasing. This perspective offers hope that the challenges of modern life, including military service, do not detract from spiritual growth but can contribute to it.

Rav Rimon’s argument that army service can be a source of holiness fits seamlessly with Rav Kook’s belief that holiness continues to accumulate over time. What may have been a threat to religious life in previous generations — serving in the army — is now an opportunity for spiritual elevation. Today, religious soldiers are finding ways to live deeply committed religious lives while defending the Jewish state, contributing to the greater holiness of the Jewish people.

Conclusion: A Path Toward Spiritual Growth and Sanctity in Military Service

The debate over Haredi military service is not just about finding ways to make army service more accommodating to religious observance. Instead, we should reframe the conversation and argue that military service itself can be a platform for spiritual growth and sanctity. While concerns about secular influences remain, perspectives like Rav Rimon's challenge the notion that the army is inherently dangerous to religious life. Rather, it offers a unique opportunity for religious soldiers to live out their faith with greater commitment, even in challenging circumstances.

Rather than merely structuring the army to minimize religious challenges, we should recognize that army service can contribute to the holiness of the Jewish people. It can be a space where religious values are not only preserved but enhanced, where soldiers are encouraged to deepen their spiritual practice while defending the Jewish state. By embracing this understanding, military service becomes not a threat to religious identity, but a powerful opportunity for spiritual growth — aligning with the evolving sanctity of the Jewish people in our time.