What it Means to be an IDF Soldier on Yom Kippur

A letter from CPT Daniel, the Chief Rabbi of the Givati Brigade, on the eve of Yom Kippur: 

“In my role as the Rabbi of the Givati Brigade, I am in charge of making sure that all Jews and non Jews can practice their religions and in general, to make sure that every soldier receives everything they need to carry out their religious practices accordingly.

I was drafted to become the Rabbi of the Givati Brigade training base. Afterward, I was put in charge of all officer’s courses in the Rabbinate, and I now serve as the Chief Rabbi of the Givati Brigade.

A community rabbi is mainly responsible for delivering wisdom from the Torah to the congregation. As a rabbi in the army, I share the same responsibilities as a community rabbi as well as focusing on the other religions that soldiers practice in the IDF.

In regards to Yom Kippur, a soldier who stays on base on Yom Kippur has the privilege to protect the State of Israel in a time where not many soldiers are as privileged to guard. When a soldier is on active duty, he is required to start fasting and if he needs to break due to guard duty, he is permitted to drink and eat an amount that will make him feel better and allow him to continue guarding.

A message to our soldiers:

You have the honor of protecting an army base in the State of Israel and which is a big Mitzvah (a good deed). For thousands of years, Jews have dreamed of protecting the State of Israel. You have the opportunity to live out the words of the prophets: “And may our eyes see your return to Zion, with mercy.””