‘You are trailblazers’: Record 537 Haredi men join IDF in single intake

The IDF says that a record 537 ultra-Orthodox men enlisted in the army during the December-January intake, which took place yesterday and today, to its designated Haredi service tracks, marking the largest such recruitment period to date.

According to the IDF, 230 of the new recruits joined combat roles, while 307 were placed in combat-support positions across a range of units, with the enlistment process to be completed in the coming days.

Speaking to the recruits at the IDF Recruitment Center at Tel HaShomer, Personnel Directorate head Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa stresses both the operational need and the effort to accommodate religious lifestyles.

“Operational needs require us to fill the ranks. You are trailblazers, and many more will follow in your footsteps,” Bar Kalifa told the recruits, according to an IDF statement. He said that the military will not compromise on allowing them “to fulfill your duty to defend the country while preserving your Torah world and the spirit of Jewish law.”

The military says the enlistment figures reflect ongoing efforts to expand recruitment among the ultra-Orthodox community, including by broadening existing tracks, establishing new dedicated frameworks, holding outreach and information conferences, and adjusting training and service conditions.