Haredi company closed - fighters integrated into secular force: "We burned our past, we feel betrayed"

Haredi soldiers who enlisted for service as fighters in the "Tomer" company of Givati told Ynet that it has been closed - and they have now been transferred to another company in the battalion, where soldiers who maintain a secular lifestyle serve. The Haredi fighters shared the heavy price they paid when they acted against the norm in their environment, and chose to enlist in the IDF as part of a track where they could maintain their Haredi lifestyle - and are now furious at the system that did not stand by its promise.

The fighters enlisted in the November 2024 cycle. "The Haredi Directorate said we could not continue, and decided to dismantle the company. The commanders said they would stop recruiting Haredi fighters to the company, because it would not have a continuation anyway," one of the Haredi fighters told Ynet. "It is very sad. It is an honor for us to serve in Givati, but when you dismantle a company that was defined by a specific line and stream - you take care of it. You don't leave it behind."

About two weeks ago, the fighters from the dismantled company were integrated into the operational company, which is currently operating in the Gaza Strip. One of the fighters shared: "We feel betrayed. Most of our company is on welfare assistance. People burned their entire past, and their future, to contribute to the country - and in the end they are stuck because the Haredi Directorate doesn't know what to do."

The fighter also spoke about the importance of maintaining their lifestyle: "During the training stage, the commanders take care of prayer and study times. When you go up to the battalion you are more your own master. We are called to events not in separation, during the Nine Days they play music and serve meat. There are so many gaps, that in terms of outlook they simply don't fit."

Now, some of the Haredi fighters are considering their next steps. "I know many people who are now interested in leaving the company. One of the reasons is that they are integrating female paramedics with us, or assigning us to duty together with female soldiers. If we raise this, they tell us to refuse and that we will face a court-martial," said one of the fighters.

The fighters turned to the relevant parties and the Haredi Directorate in order to solve the issue, but remained without an answer. "We turned to the brigade's rabbinate, they do everything and try so that such things don't happen. But who in the end abandons us - is the Haredi Directorate. It was supposed to take care of us, that everything is run according to what they promised us."

"We will fight, we have rights, we enlisted through the Directorate," he concluded. "For our part we will go to Tel HaShomer, to their office, we will make a mess until they take us seriously. We feel like nothing, another screw in the system."

We turned to the IDF Spokesperson for a response, but it was not received by the time the article was published.