Chabadniks in the IDF

The news is reporting that the IDF is now going to be buying some of its food using the Chabad hechsher, which will be much more expensive and will cost the army a lot more. The reason for this is the high number of draftees from Chabad that are strict about eating from that specific shechita alone.

While some might think this is bad and that they should compromise and do like everyone else, I think this is a good thing.

If the army wants more Haredim to come, it has to be more accommodating and create an environment that will at least be somewhat inviting, rather than an automatic conflict and place of friction. At least if there are significant numbers of any specific community with specific requirements, those requirements should be accommodated as much as possible. Kashrut is a big one, and if a significant amount of soldiers want a specific hechsher, the IDF should provide it. I don't really care about the money. The defense budget is so big, the difference between one hechsher and another for a few hundred young men is a drop in the bucket.

If Chabadniks know they can get Chabad meat in the army, that is one more impediment that will have fallen away and one less reason to avoid drafting to the IDF. And other communities will take note.

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