By Amos Harel Last update - 07:23 23/10/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1030558.html

The Chief Military Rabbinate has recently expanded its educational
activities in IDF combat units, and in doing so has entered areas previously
served only by the Education Corps. Many commanders accept offers of such
programs since the rabbinate pays for these activities, while the units must
foot the bill for events run by the Education Corps.

The Chief Military Rabbinate's behavior "harms the delicate fabric of
relations between the nonreligious and religious in the IDF," a senior
officer told Haaretz. "In a number of cases it is religious brainwashing
and, indirectly, also political [brainwashing]," said the officer.

IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, ordered an investigation of the
matter this week and requested to redraw the "borders" between the rabbinate
and Education Corps.

The Military Rabbinate has been conducting such programs for years but has
greatly stepped up its activities during the past year. One of the main
reasons is economic: Non-profit organizations and religious citizens have
been contributing money via Libi - The Fund for Strengthening Israel's
Defense. The contributions are earmarked for specific purposes, in this case
the rabbinate's educational activities. The sums are significant, and give
the rabbinate an advantage over the Education Corps.

Most of the controversial activities are organized by the "Jewish Awareness
Department" in the Military Rabbinate, headed by Lt. Col. Zadok (Duki)
Ben-Artzi, a former Air Force navigator who became religiously observant.
The unit was established in the days of former IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen.
Yisrael Weiss, and was called the "Combat Values branch." However, after
Haaretz reported on the activities of the unit in 2001, its name was changed
to Jewish Awareness and the IDF announced it would supervise the unit's
activities more closely.

Now, it turns out, that its programs have expanded greatly under the command
of the present IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Rabbi Avichai Ronski, who assumed
his position in 2006. The slogan for the programs is "Jewish awareness for a
victorious IDF." Ben-Artzi describes his goal as "strengthening the combat
spirit and [sense of] mission in military service."

Ben-Artzi operates a telephone call center for units and offers services
that are clearly under the purview of the Education Corps, such as programs
and information on historic battles of the IDF and learning about the land
of Israel. The unit offers to organize activities and programs "based on
biblical sources, appropriate for all soldiers and commanders, also for
those who do not come from a religious background," states one of its
brochures. "The Jewish Awareness unit specializes in organizing the
activities from start to finish," it states.

The unit circulates a number of publications, including a booklet for
"commanders from a Jewish viewpoint," and one for combat soldiers "to
strengthen their spirit before battle." The unit also offers advice and help
in writing and updating materials for courses, including integrating
programs and materials on Jewish awareness in the courses. It also offers
seminars and conferences all over the country.

In particular, it hosts IDF units weekends and, the jewel in the crown, a
Shabbat in Jerusalem. The free weekend is something which the Education
Corps cannot compete with.

It operates these weekends in close coordination with the right wing Elad
non-profit organization, which works to expand Jewish settlement in East
Jerusalem and, in particular, in the village of Silwan.

A senior officer told Haaretz: "The temptation on the part of a battalion
commander is great. From his point of view, he is getting a weekend for
forging group spirit for the battalion, at the price of only a few hours of
discussion with the rabbi. Every commander wants to strengthen values, and
some of the commanders are religious and, in any case, agree with the Chief
Military Rabbi. Few are aware of the nuances, or are aware that religious
and nationalistic preaching is entering through the backdoor. This is a
gross invasion of the Education Corps area, which does not approve the
content and the exploitation of soldiers, who are a captive audience, coming
for the Sabbath under orders. Ronski and his subordinates are breaking the
status quo operating in the IDF from the days of Ben-Gurion," said the
officer.

At the beginning of the year, after numerous reports from his officers, the
Chief Education officer, Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister, asked the former head
of the Human Resources Branch, Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern, to hold an urgent
meeting on the matter. Stern ruled the Rabbinate was not allowed to invade
the Education Corps' areas of operation without coordination. However,
Ben-Artzi was heard to say to his soldiers immediately afterward: "We are
continuing as usual."

The IDF Spokesman responded to a request from Haaretz on the matter saying,
"The Chief of Staff recently gave the head of the Manpower Branch, Maj. Gen.
Avi Samir, an order to hold orderly discussions and present him with his
recommendations as to the coordination and borders between the Education
Corps and the Military Rabbinate. In principle, the responsibility for
education in the IDF belongs to the Education Corps, including writing and
distributing various course materials, educational seminars, weekends, etc."

The IDF Spokesman added that the rabbinate receives donations from the two
bodies legally authorized to do so. However, other military sources said the
supervision on such donations is minimal and the IDF has only limited
knowledge of the contributions the Rabbinate receives.