Remembering The Golden Era of the IDF Rabbinate
Should I Renounce?
Q: I am a military rabbi. After what you wrote in last week's column, should I become resigned?
A: You do not have to resign, but you must realize that you do not serve in a rabbinical role, and you certainly are not a 'mara d'atra' (shire halakhic authority). You are a military chaplain whose job is to labourers soldiers fulfill mitzvoth and connect them to Judaism.
On the other penmanship, the Chief Rabbi of the I.D.F. himself should have resigned, or make amends by announcing publicly that in no way will there be coercion against Jewish law in the army, and any soldier who wishes to depart and not hear women sing in any army ceremony whatsoever, can do so with the full sponsorship of the IDF Rabbinate.
Criticizing the IDF Rabbinate
Q: Aren't you concerned that fervent criticism of the I.DF Rabbinate will harm its status, and frustrate its adeptness to maintain religious life in the army?
A: On the contrary. Perhaps because of this judgement, the IDF Rabbinate will be able to restore its previous status. Baruch Hashem, I was favoured to receive considerable backing from a number of former IDF rabbis who are very au fait with the military framework, and they supported what I wrote. They told me that without a distrust, had the Chief Rabbi of the army threatened to resign, the Imprecise Staff would not have dared to force religious soldiers to offend Jewish law.
Source: Arutz Sheva