The Chief of the General Staff at a Hanukkah Candle-Lighting With Hashmonaim Brigade Troops: “You are the Maccabees of our time”

The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, lit today (Sunday) the eighth Hanukkah candle with the troops and commanders of the Hashmoniam Brigade at the “Tevetz” Base.

During the visit, the Chief of the General Staff spoke with the brigade’s commanders and troops, expressed his appreciation for their activity, and emphasized the importance of their enlistment in the IDF in order to protect the security of the State of Israel.

From the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir: “The brigade’s operational activity over the past year proves that it is possible to integrate combat service while maintaining an ultra-Orthodox way of life. The IDF is the army of the people, and it has a duty to welcome all communities of society. Many missions lie ahead. We are working to expand the ranks of the IDF and to further recruit ultra-Orthodox individuals in order to ensure our readiness for future challenges - we cannot exist without a strong, alert, and capable military. The strength of the IDF lies in its service members, from across all sectors of society. Our security needs are extensive and we need more combat soldiers; we are operating to expand the brigade and to develop additional integration frameworks. Recently, the brigade’s first commanders course concluded, and an officers course for ultra-Orthodox combat soldiers will also open in the future. We are building a groundbreaking generation of an ultra-Orthodox chain of command that will lead across all arenas - this is further proof that you, together with all IDF troops, are the Maccabees of our time. The brigade’s name reflects those who serve in it. You are at the heart of the operational activity, defending the people of Israel, the Land of Israel, and Jewish traditions while maintaining an ultra-Orthodox way of life. You serve as an example of combat spirit and mutual societal responsibility. 

As we light the eighth Hanukkah candle, we must remember that our mission is not yet complete. The IDF continues to operate to return the last fallen hostage, SFC Ran Gvili, for burial in Israel, and we will not complete our mission until he is brought home”.

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