The first group of students from the Vizhnitzer Yeshiva took off their traditional long kaftans and dark hats today and donned the khaki uniforms of the Israel Army as volunteers rather than as conscripts.
Their induction into Israel’s Armed Forces was carried out with a number of changes in the usual formalities. Instead of female Army clerks, male soldiers received the new recruits. On hand to welcome the yeshiva students was a large group of senior officers, who observed the hassidic dances, unusual for an Army camp, even in Israel. The students will undergo basic military training and will later settle in Ami Oz, near the Gaza Strip.
The recruits arrived in camp after receiving the blessing of the Admor of Vizhnitz in B’nai B’rak. They were received by Army Chief Chaplain Rabbi Shlomo Goren, who welcomed them on behalf of the Army. They were then “sworn in” but, instead of saying “I swear” they were permitted to say “I undertake,” which is in accord with their religious convictions. Another change in the loyalty declaration was that the words “in the spirit of Torah and tradition” were added to the phrase “to devote all my strength to the defense of the country and to Israel’s freedom.”
The yeshiva students were given their khaki uniforms, passed normal medical inspection and received their inoculations. These, however, were given by male physicians and medical personnel taken from various units for this purpose. After receiving the usual double mess equipment–one for meat foods and the other for dairy foods–the hassidic recruits demanded a third set for parve foods–foods that are neither meat nor dairy. The officers in charge promised to distribute them.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
