IDF chief’s new Haredi adviser gets promotion

Ahead of entering a new role as adviser to the IDF chief of staff on ultra-Orthodox affairs, Avinoam Emunah is promoted to the rank of brigadier general.

Emunah recently served as commander of the military’s new Hasmonean Brigade for Haredi troops.

The IDF says that as part of the new role, Emunah will work in coordination with all branches of the military to “advance and expand the service of members of the Haredi community in the IDF, including building service tracks, establishing units, and strengthening a service environment that is enabling and adapted to the Haredi way of life.”

“As part of his role, he will also engage, among other things, in accompanying recruits before service, updating, adapting, and enforcing policy, guiding commanders on issues related to the service of Haredi soldiers, and providing support and responses to the soldiers themselves,” the army says.

Emunah was awarded the brigadier general rank by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir during a ceremony today.

At the same ceremony, Zamir also awarded Shai Siman-Tov, a senior officer in the Operations Directorate, the rank of brigadier general.

Siman-Tov was critically wounded during the 2014 Gaza War while serving as the commander of the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion. He returned to the military a year after his injury to serve at the IDF’s Tactical Command College. More recently, he has been serving in a top role in the Operations Directorate.