According to Arutz 7, three Chabad recruits to the Hashmonaim brigade are in trouble and may be transferred out of the brigade to a different one. They have insisted on going every morning to a nearby spring, off the base but near it, to use as a mikva for their regular morning immersion.

It seems one commander had approved these morning jaunts to the spring, while the commander of the brigade objected saying it is too dangerous.

It seems likely that the IDF will dismiss them from Hashmonaim, and move them to a different brigade for the remainder of their service.

1. that is providing good deterrence against future infractions.

2. if a commander approved it, I think they should probably let it slide, even while stopping it moving forward. Meaning, if it was approved, dont punish them for the past but dont allow it to continue from now on.

3. maybe they should build a mikva on the base. The Chabadniks and many other future recruits, especially recruits from the chassidishe communities, are going to want regular access to a mikva as part of their retaining their lifestyle. Seems like a minor thing to provide.

4. If they prefer to use a spring, maybe the base can extend its borders to incorporate the spring as part of the base. I dont know how close it actually is to the base, but maybe this should be considered.

5. I do feel bad for these guys who did not really do anything wrong. They signed up for Hashmonaim due to it meeting their needs. They did not go to Netzach Yehuda or Tomer or Chetz or any of the other Haredi programs. And again, they did not really do anything wrong. Potential recruits might hesitate signing up for this knowing that for the slightest things they will be moved into "less Haredi" units. That is a good policy to keep the Hashmonaim brigade as Haredi as they intended but in this case they are being moved for reasons nothing to do with breaches of the Haredi rules. Perhaps a different punishment is warranted such as shabbos on base or clean the bathrooms for a week or whatever.