There are moments when you can feel the heart of the people of Israel beating

This morning, with the start of the August 2026 draft, I was privileged once again to be alongside hundreds of recruits and their families on their way to the induction center. A few moments before they board the bus, a moment before they put on the IDF uniform for the first time and recite the "Shehecheyanu" blessing, a scene unfolds that is hard to remain indifferent to.

The music begins, the circles open, and these young people, who just a moment ago were students, sons, and friends, are about to become soldiers serving God who combine "the book and the sword." They dance together, smile, hug, and celebrate the completion of Talmudic tractates. And from this moment, all barriers disappear.

There is no right and no left. There is no one sector or another. There is no difference between a city and a kibbutz, between a religious home and a secular home. There is one people standing around a generation and souls of redemption who choose to take responsibility and defend the State of Israel through Torah.

Within all this joy, there are also moments that we all must recognize: the moment when a mother approaches her son, holds his face in her hands, and blesses him a moment before he boards the bus and parts from home. The tears that flow from her eyes are tears of national pride and love, but also of prayer and concern.

She is handing over her child for a great mission, and asks for only one thing — that he returns in peace. These are moments that remind us what truly stands behind this holy uniform.

The IDF is not just an army. It is the fulfillment of commandments from the Torah and, in addition, an expression of love for Israel, unconditional love, and the mutual responsibility of the entire Israeli society. The army is the place where young people from all over the country stand together, shoulder to shoulder, and understand that their mission is greater than any temporary disagreement.

Since the beginning of the war on Simchat Torah about three years ago, we have all relearned the meaning of national unity. We have seen how in a time of testing, the people of Israel know how to unite, mobilize, and reveal their deepest soul powers.

Our great challenge as a society is to take these moments into our daily routine as well. To learn from our soldiers that it is possible to be different and still be brothers. That it is possible to hold different opinions and still stand together for a common goal. That the connection between us is greater than any disagreement.

The recruits of August 2026 are now setting out on a new journey. They carry a great responsibility on their shoulders, but they also carry the hope of us all. From the moment they put on the IDF uniform, they are no longer just the children of their families. They are the children of the entire people of Israel.

We thank them, pray for their well-being, and are proud of them, and at the TZALASH organization, we will also ensure to be the home that accompanies them throughout their military service with more than 100 rabbis in the field. They have chosen to dedicate themselves for the sake of the people of Israel, and we as an organization will ensure to keep them with a strong Jewish spirit.