To my ultra-Orthodox brothers who don't find their place in a yeshiva,
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Like you, I never dreamed that I would one day enlist in the IDF. I got to know the military through the Netzah Yehuda association, which provided me with assistance and guidance for the recruitment process, accompanying me every step of the way. This made enlisting more accessible for me as an ultra-Orthodox youth.
A few months ago, I enlisted in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion in the Kfir Brigade, and I must admit that if, before my enlistment, I hesitated for about half a year whether to enlist or not, torn inside about going against the grain or wondering why I needed this and about taking a risk, today I can proudly say that it was the best decision I made in my life.
I’m an ultra-Orthodox man from a Hasidic family, and on Shabbat, I wear a long coat, feeling the military’s complete connection to my religious identity. This is in stark contrast to all the stereotypes I had before enlisting. In the ultra-Orthodox battalion, I receive all the spiritual support, including three daily prayers, Torah studies, and personal guidance from rabbis.
On Shabbat, we experience religious elation with Shabbat meals in a positive atmosphere, surpassing even what I felt when celebrating in my yeshiva. Throughout my military service, I feel that I’ve connected to Judaism even more, driven by genuine willingness and love.
In the army, I realized that I’m a responsible adult who must fulfill military obligations, while at the same time, I connect with my spirituality. For instance, before each track we go through, we pray and sing songs from the Torah, giving me strength that I hadn't experienced before.
I enlisted in the IDF with the ultra-Orthodox principles I was raised with, and I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to maintain them in my service. Today, as a soldier, I don't feel a contradiction between my enlistment and my religious beliefs. It's not about the ideology of whoever is leading the country. I feel that I’m keeping my family, my friends, and the entire people of Israel safe by serving meaningfully in defense of this country, ensuring that Jews can live safely in their homeland.
The article I’m writing isn’t intended for yeshiva students who sit and study Torah. I have no doubt that they perform an important service for the people of Israel, both in the continuation of the Jewish tradition and in the spiritual defense that safeguards all IDF soldiers. However, I do call on my brothers who aren’t actually studying. Join me; it is an equally important mitzvah.
There is a true saying in the military that goes, "When you’re a combat soldier in the army, you’re a combat soldier for life." In the IDF, I learned how much I can combat personal challenges.
If in civilian life I didn't insist on waking up in the morning and praying with a minyan, today I fight to rise and pray the morning prayers, even after we return from an operation late in the night.
Suddenly, I discovered strengths in myself that I didn't know existed before. Thanks to the military, I know how to cope with spiritual difficulties as well because they teach me not to despair and give up, but to overcome and surpass any obstacle.
While in other IDF units, the military schedule is fixed, and any remaining time allows a religious soldier to receive some spiritual support, in the ultra-Orthodox battalion, spiritual support comes first. This includes, for example, designated prayer times and Torah study, followed by incorporating everything else and leisure activities.
Ultimately, I became a better person, and in the future, I’ll know how not to be disturbed by both spiritual and physical difficulties, whether it's in my workplace, my married life, and beyond. Difficulty exists not only in operation and in the field, but also in the decision to sit down and study a page of the Talmud.
I call on you, the ultra-Orthodox youth man who’s currently at home and not really attending the yeshiva, and is contemplating what he should do. I suggest you think about enlisting in the IDF, which will help you integrate into civilian life later, as a citizen who contributed to Israel’s security while staying committed to your beliefs.
A small piece of advice: When you enlist, you’ll face challenges that no one has prepared you for, but you will discover that you’re strong and can balance between the fear of heaven and the duty to defend the people of Israel. Don't fear, don't hesitate; it's time to join.
You'll thank me later. It's the right choice.
- Elimelech Risses, a 19-year-old from Jerusalem, is a soldier in the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda Battalion.