...he's not capable of understanding his troops. There's a tragic flaw in the mindset of Israel's Chief of Staff Asheknazi. Apparently, he's incapable of comprehending the mindset of a large proportion of IDF soldiers.
Today's Israel Defense Forces has more religious Jews in higher positions than ever before. They are as dedicated to Judaism as they're patriotic, but they will not sacrifice their religious values to "fit in." In recent years, the overall observance of religious law has increased in the Israeli population, and male Israelis are less embarrassed to refuse to attend events with female singing.
COS Ashkenazi takes offense at this, considering those "cultural events" important "melting pot" activities.
Since the beginning of the State of Israel, just over sixty years ago, the army has been the foremost tool in creating Israeli society and culture. Those who found it too secular did their best not to join, and those who considered the state most important quietly compromised.
Today we see a different Israeli soldier and a different army. It's a shame that the Chief of Staff doesn't value the dedicated idealism of the strictly religious soldier. A bit more empathy would make him a better leader.
15 comments:
I have a couple of questions and thoughts about this:
1. What about the female IDF soldiers? Are they also being forced to attend these coed concerts? If so, is there mixed seating or any form of separation?
If Ashkenazi is forcing female and male soldiers to attend the same concerts are the female soldiers allowed to opt out for religious reasons?
2.Ashkenazi's goal seems to be a desire to boost team morale. He's defeating the purpose of that by forcing soldiers to attend a coed concert that is against their religious principles.
What is the big deal if they want to opt out anyways? Let the secular soldiers attend if they like and the religious soldiers opt out. Simple as that.
I'm sure this team spirit and morale boosting can be enriched in other methods such as during training and living in the same barracks together. They became like family while living in close quarters anyways.
Ashkenazi is being insistent about this for no good reason. There's no point to it. I have to wonder if he is under political pressure to undermine the faith of the religious soldiers of both genders for some reason.
Possibly to undermine their faith and beliefs so that they'll be more receptive to doing participating in things contrary to Jewish teachings--ie. expell Jews from their communities?
IMO this is about much more than soldiers not being willing to attend a coed concert and a military leader building morale among is troops.
There are fewer religious female soldiers, because many do national service in a different framework. Women may listen to other women. No problem there.
Since the beginning of the state and earlier there has been a goal to make a "new Jew," disconnected to Jewish Law. I hope Ashkenazi is just insensitive and not pushing that agenda.
eh. i think there are not nearly as many of these soldiers as you think. for one, if these soldiers have a problem like this, let them join nachal chareidi. for another, to non-religious ears it sound weird and unbelievable: you cant listen to a woman sing? you dont have tv, dont listen to the radio, etc.? ashkenazi, who by all accounts is a good military leader and jew, cannot make exceptions for everyone.
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Anonymous said...
eh. i think there are not nearly as many of these soldiers as you think.
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What's the difference how many there are. A Jewish soldier in a supposedly Jewish army should not have to violate Jewish law.
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for one, if these soldiers have a problem like this, let them join nachal chareidi.
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Without meaning to belittle Nachal Hareidi, the IDF would have a major manpower problem in its elite and battle units if it made a decision that religious soldier must be isolated within Nachal Hareidi. But go ahead. Mess up Zahal even more than it is already.
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for another, to non-religious ears it sound weird and unbelievable: you cant listen to a woman sing? you dont have tv, dont listen to the radio, etc.? ashkenazi, who by all accounts is a good military leader and jew, cannot make exceptions for everyone.
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Sample Halachic response:
The Parameters of Kol Isha.
Nobody asked the non-religious to cancel these performances.
A good Jew, by defintion, will not impose on another Jew to violate an accepted Halachic prohibition.
TY Batya.
What I was asking about the female religious soldiers was if they were being forced to listen to male singers.
I hope all of this doesn't backfire on Ashkenazi to the point where religious Jews start looking for military exemptions or something.
I still think he's either being forced to be a stickler over something that could easily be handled on an opt in or out policy or needs to learn which battles to fight because this shouldn't be one of them.
Already he's upset the male soldiers. That can't be good for morale and cohesiveness either.
Another thought--some have suggested that Ashkenazi could have political aspirations once he retires. This insistence on badgering the religious soldiers could be an indication of what he'd be like as a politician.
I agree with Shy Guy once again:) From everything I've read there are increasing numbers of religious Jews in the IDF. Having them serve in non-combat roles could negatively impact the IDF.
I believe the IDF is blessed by G-d whether soldiers listen to women sing, eat pork, or commit any number of minor transgressions. It has to do with the fact they are protecting Jews on a massive level, which is a tremendous mitzvah. Anyways, I've never been concerned with how religious these soldiers are. The problem these days is with the Knesset (who mirror the actions of the 10 evil scouts on a regular basis), not the army.
keli, there's no reverse halacha forbidding women to listen to men.
re: Ashkenazi's political plans, whether he has them or not, he'll be offered political posts after retiring.
apom, this is an issue of non-religious coersion.
APOM101 said...
I believe the IDF is blessed by G-d whether soldiers listen to women sing, eat pork, or commit any number of minor transgressions.
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How do you know what's minor and what's major?
Chazal give us many examples of what can potentially lead to an immediate danger to our soldiers at times of battle.
Two of the major warning categories are against immodesty and slanderous talk (Lashon Harah).
For example, when Devarim 23:10 says "Ki Tezei L'milchamah al Oyvecha Ve'nishmarta mi'kal davar RAH", Chazal in both the Yerushalmi and the Sifri say that "RAH" refers to Lashon Ha'RAH.
War is a time of judgement, both at the individual, group and national level. The last thing we need in the army are incidents which can potentially lead to Heavenly indictments.
These are generalizations. Of course we do hope for Divine mercy and avoidance of conflict altogether but we Jews don't assume we're automatically entitled to it.
BTW, here's an article on a similar subject in the IDF:
IDF Base Separates Men, Women in Swimming Pool.
Shy, I think that Ashenazi is from the past in that he has no real contact/sensitivity visavi Torah Jews, but the lower level in the army comes from a much more traditional/Torah background and are more sensitive.
I'm sure that's true. Religious soldiers are coming from a point of view that he is unfamiliar with and which cotradicts his own behavioral norms.
Yes, the army is changing.
TY for explaning:) It was confusing.
Keli, there's so much to learn. That's why Jews study Judaism all our lives.
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