IDF Changes Memorial Prayer Service To Include Name Of God

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz has decided to change the army memorial service for the fallen to now say the name of God as part of the prayer service. The memorial prayer will now open with the traditional opening of  "May God remember his sons and daughters," rather than the originally disputed "May the people of Israel remember..".

The original version was under dispute for a long time, between religious and secular, with some alternating with the opening of "May God remember".

Chief of Staff Benny Gantz has put the dispute to rest by making a final decision, announcing the army will use the "May God remember.." version.

From Haaretz:

The prayer at military memorial ceremonies for Israel's fallen soldiers - Yizkor (Remember) - will open with the traditional "May God remember his sons and daughters," Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz ruled this week.


The statement followed an ongoing argument between religious and secular groups on whether the prayer at these memorials should open with "May God remember" or "May the people of Israel remember."


Amikam Gurevich, who hosted the eve of Independence Day torch-lighting ceremonies on Mount Herzl for many years, always opened with "May the people of Israel remember." Subsequent announcers have taken up the "May God remember" version. A similar process has occurred in many Memorial Day services, often at the bequest of military rabbis and religious bereaved families.


Former television journalist Menashe Raz was angry to hear the altered version a couple of years ago and complained to senior IDF officers. They promised him that the chief military rabbi would restore the "May the people of Israel remember" version. Despite the promises, last year Raz heard the "May God remember" version in services again.


Before the Memorial Day service at Palmachim this year, Raz contacted the base commander and persuaded him to instruct the announcer to open with "May the people of Israel remember." Later it was learned that the base rabbi and religious bereaved parents protested against the change.


Raz asked Gantz to restore the "May the people of Israel remember" version. "What unites us all, secular and religious, is the duty to remember the fallen soldiers in Israel's wars," he wrote. "To me personally and to many like me, God is not the one called on to remember. It is incumbent to see to it that even the chief military rabbi, who talks so much about unity, makes sure in the coming years to say "May the people of Israel remember."


The chief of staff's office this week sent Raz a reply, stating that the prayer version the IDF is bound by is "May God remember," hence this is the version read out in ceremonies.

Gantz replaced the originally nominated Yoav Galant after he had to withdraw when he was revealed to be involved in a scandal involving land acquisition, after Yair Naveh temporarily replaced Galant. Naveh would have been the first religious IDF Chief of Staff in Israel's history, and I think he probably would not have been able to get away with making such a decision, as opponents would claim his religious bias. Gantz was able to do so more easily as he does so from a secular standpoint..

I wonder how, if at all, this change will affect the relationship between the army and the religious sector...