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Nahal Haredi

Ultra-Orthodox soldiers from the Hasmonean Brigade take part in a ceremony, after completing seven months of basic and advanced training, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City on August 6, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
August 6, 2025, 4:26 pm
New Haredi brigade finishes combat training amid ongoing schism over enlistment
Hasmonean Brigade troops are meant to demonstrate that military service can go hand in hand with ultra-Orthodox observance: ‘There is nothing more Jewish than defending the Land of Israel’
By Emanuel Fabian and Sam Sokol
A member of the Haredi community near a protest against the drafting of ultra-Orthodox Jews outside an IDF recruitment center in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
November 24, 2024, 6:19 pm
Haredim in favor of IDF service insist only carrots, not sticks, will draw more recruits
As the military issues the first of 7,000 new conscription notices, communal leaders say soldiers coerced into service are liabilities: ‘They would be destroyed in Lebanon or Gaza’
By Mati Wagner
In this undated photo, Rabbi Shimon Hartman, center in white shirt, with Haredi soldiers from Chedvata Yeshiva. (Courtesy)
June 12, 2024, 8:15 am
A yeshiva that preps Haredi men for IDF service mourns first graduate to fall in battle
As Israeli society debates mandatory ultra-Orthodox enlistment amid war, Staff Sgt. Bezalel Kovach’s life and death present a new view of what it means to belong to the community
By Mati Wagner
Illustrative: A religious Jewish soldier is embraced by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family member after a swearing-in ceremony for the IDF Nahal Haredi unit, at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, May 26, 2012 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
December 1, 2019, 1:22 pm
Ultra-Orthodox enlistment in IDF plummeted in 2018 — report
In first drop in a decade, 2,440 Haredim were inducted into the armed forces in 2018, down from 3,070 the previous year
By ToI Staff and Agencies
Dov Lipman
May 2, 2018, 3:31 pm
Dov Lipman
The Haredi Spring
The young people of Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community are making their move to integrate into Israeli society
Soldiers from the Netzah Yehuda battalion catch a group of Palestinians allegedly preparing to attack a West Bank highway with rocks and Molotov cocktails on June 16, 2017. (IDF Spokesperson's Unit)
June 16, 2017, 6:20 pm
IDF nabs Palestinians suspected of terrorizing West Bank highway
Religious Netzah Yehuda battalion ambushes alleged terror cell as it prepared to firebomb roadway for third week in a row
By Judah Ari Gross
Young Israelis arrive at the Tel Hashomer military base to enlist in the 'Netzah Yehuda' battalion, on July 30, 2015. (Photo by Tomer Neuberg/FLASH90)
February 11, 2016, 4:47 pm
Haredi soldier jailed for 7 months for beating detained Palestinians
Judges say harsh sentence should send ‘clear message’ to others, follows separate abuse case in same battalion
By ToI Staff
Illustrative photo of soldiers from Nahal Haredi, an ultra-Orthodox battalion in the Israel Defense Forces (Abir Sultan/Flash90, File)
February 7, 2016, 9:54 pm
Army promotional video courts Haredi youth
Tongue-in-cheek clip calls on ultra-Orthodox to enlist in religious cadet program
By Daniel Douek
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and owner Robert Kraft are all smiles after beating the Indianapolis Colts, January 2015. (Elsa/Getty Images/via JTA)
February 1, 2015, 5:30 am
In Super Bowl matchup, Pats have Israel connections covered
Tom Brady shoots at an IDF range, PMO guards try to dismantle the championship trophy, and scrappy NE players embrace their heritage
By Lazar Berman
Members of the Shahar program work on a tech project (Courtesy: IAF)
January 18, 2015, 6:15 pm
IDF ultra-Orthodox tech program a bridge to workforce
Graduates of the army’s Shahar track earn skills to make a living at the cost of possible opprobrium at home
By David Shamah
Illustrative photo of soldiers from Nahal Haredi, an ultra-Orthodox battalion in the Israel Defense Forces (Abir Sultan/Flash90, File)
September 8, 2014, 8:55 pm
Ultra-Orthodox IDF induction up 39%, officials say
Almost 2,000 sign up, but number still short of projected 3,800 recruits for the 2013-2014 cohort
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: A religious Jewish soldier is embraced by an ultra-Orthodox Jewish family member after a swearing-in ceremony for the IDF Nahal Haredi unit, at Ammunition Hill in Jerusalem, May 26, 2012 (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
August 5, 2014, 8:42 pm
Shunning taboo, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox seek to volunteer for IDF
‘We want to show both the army and our own public that there is a different way of doing things,’ says Haredi coordinator
By Elhanan Miller
IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz speaks with soldiers during a visit to the Netzah Yehuda Battalion near Jenin, on Sunday, March 2, 2014. (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson/Flash90)
March 2, 2014, 11:20 pm
IDF chief cites Holocaust to justify Haredi service
Benny Gantz reportedly tells ultra-Orthodox soldiers that the IDF doesn’t differentiate between Jews — just like the Nazis
By Marissa Newman
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon at a ceremony in honor of the 15th anniversary of the Netzach Yehuda battalion. January 21, 2014 (photo credit: Courtesy)
January 22, 2014, 5:54 am
Haredi draft mustn’t be forced, defense minister says
As universal draft bill set to be presented to Knesset at month’s end, Ya’alon says conscription must ‘enable, not coerce’
By Marissa Newman
IDF soldier describes pre-dawn gunfight in Jenin, West Bank, on Tuesday (photo credit: screenshot from YouTube)
August 21, 2013, 2:20 am
Video shows IDF under attack during Jenin arrest
Footage appears to support soldiers’ claim that they were fired upon in incident that left a Palestinian demonstrator dead
By Adiv Sterman and Raphael Ahren
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