After receiving the President's award for volunteering this month, the chairman of the advisory committee of the Netzach Yehuda Association, philanthropist David Hager received the badge from President Yitzchak Herzog in a moving ceremony held at the President's residence in Jerusalem.
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philanthropist David Hager received the badge from President Yitzchak Herzog for his work promoting military service for Haredi men
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Hager received the award for his work promoting Charedi communities and their integration into the IDF and Israeli society. "David Hager dedicates his time, funds and energy to the Charedi soldiers and the system of integrating the Haredi society into the IDF and the Israeli society. Thousands of Charedi soldiers who are in the army and in society today owe their great success in all areas of life to him," Herzog said.
Hagar, (64) was born and raised in Jerusalem and was among the first of his community to serve in the military, over two decades ago. He was among the founders of the IDF unit of Haredi soldiers and has since devoted many years to building and promoting the Netzach Yehuda association, which accompanies ultra-Orthodox soldiers in their service in the hopes that they will later be integrated into the workforce and become productive members of society. Some 16,000 people have already integrated into Israel's job market, the economic fields and other areas.
Hager was surprised during the ceremony in his honor, when current and former IDF senior officers, Ms. Miriam Adelson, Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz and other well-known dignitaries came to honor his many years of service.
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Dignitaries, friends attend ceremony in honor of David Hager at the President's Residence
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Hager thanked Herzog for the recognition, for his work and for the long-standing partnership to help promote the military service in the ultra-Orthodox community and his support of those who serve. "For over two decades now I have gotten up every morning knowing that I have a responsibility towards those Charedi men who chose to enlist and combine Tora, the military and work, and I wish to continue helping them integrate in all areas," Hager said. "In these days of polarization and the deepening internal rift, the Charedi fighters and soldiers are a bridge and an example of a life of unity," he said.
"This honor belongs first and foremost to the Charedi soldiers and the thousands of graduates of Netzach Yehuda and the Charedi battalions in Givati, air Force paratroopers and combat supporter unit members, the brave people who chose to contribute and integrate into Israeli society," he said.