Combat Is the Job
Photo by: Marc Israel Sellem
IDF: Religious soldiers cannot leave ceremonies
By YAAKOV KATZ
02/01/2012
Gantz rules there will be no exceptions in official ceremonies but soldiers can be excused from unit parties.
Religious soldiers will not be allowed to leave official IDF ceremonies during performances by female singers, Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz ruled on Monday.
Gantz did decide however that soldiers could ask their commanders and receive exemptions from having to attend performances by female singers during private unit parties.
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Gantz’s ruling is part of an IDF effort to end weeks of controversy started by a series of incidents when religious soldiers walked out of military ceremonies to avoid hearing performances by female singers.
“There is room in the IDF for women to contribute in whatever way they can and there is no prohibition on women singing,” Gantz said last week. “Israel and the IDF need to clarify that the commander is the authority in the military and whenever it is a formal event soldiers will be obligated to attend.”
Gantz also announced that rabbis who want to speak to groups of soldiers will need to first receive approval from Chief IDF Rabbi Brig.-Gen. Rafi Peretz. A representative of the IDF Rabbinate Corps will also be present at all outside lectures to ensure that the content is in line with military policy.
In related news, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Yair Naveh decided recently to ban IDF units from paying singers to perform at military ceremonies or events over the coming year in an effort to cut back on spending.
http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=251912
The great Shlomo Baum may he rest in peace, once told me the problem with common sense is that it is not common.
This is a stupid ruling.
I am against women on a public bus being told go to the back of the bus.
I am against thugs in Beit Shemesh spitting on and cursing at little girls.
I am against religious soldiers being forced, to hear female soldiers sing.
The job of the IDF is to fight wars. The majority of many combat units is now religious soldiers. So let them do the job of the IDF and if they don't want to hear a female soldier sing, excuse them from the program.
