Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
A handover ceremony for the commander of the IDF's Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox troops in the northern city of Beit She'an, February 3, 2026. (Israel Defense Forces)
The IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade for ultra-Orthodox troops gets a new commander, Col. Shemer Raviv.
A handover ceremony is held in Beit She’an.
Raviv, a former commander of the Paran Regional Brigade on the Egyptian border, is replacing Col. Avinoam Emunah.
“The IDF intends for this process to succeed, and the integration of the Haredi public is genuine, and we are committed to seeing it through. Not a melting pot, but integration while preserving the uniqueness of the Haredi community and its contribution to the people of Israel,” Raviv says at the ceremomy.
Col. Shemer Raviv, the commander of the Paran Regional Brigade, on the Israel-Egypt border, January 12, 2025. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)
Emunah is set to be promoted to brigadier general and enter a new role as an adviser to the IDF chief of staff on ultra-Orthodox affairs. Emunah was the inaugural commander of the Hasmonean Brigade, beginning with the unit’s inception in late 2024.
The handover comes as the IDF prepares to issue a General Staff order formalizing arrangements that will make it easier for ultra-Orthodox troops to serve.
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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
