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IDF Chief Rabbi Brig. Gen. Rabbi Avichai Ronski. (IDF Spokesman's Office)
Last update - 00:00 23/10/2008
Israel military rabbi under fire for 'brainwashing' soldiers
By Amos Harel
Tags: Avichai Ronski, IDF 

The Chief Military Rabbinate has recently expanded its educational activities in IDF combat units, and in doing so has entered areas previously served only by the Education Corps. Many commanders accept offers of such programs since the rabbinate pays for these activities, while the units must foot the bill for events run by the Education Corps.

The Chief Military Rabbinate's behavior "harms the delicate fabric of relations between the nonreligious and religious in the IDF," a senior officer told Haaretz. "In a number of cases it is religious brainwashing and, indirectly, also political [brainwashing]," said the officer.

IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, ordered an investigation of the matter this week and requested to redraw the "borders" between the rabbinate and Education Corps.
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The Military Rabbinate has been conducting such programs for years but has greatly stepped up its activities during the past year. One of the main reasons is economic: Non-profit organizations and religious citizens have been contributing money via Libi - The Fund for Strengthening Israel's Defense. The contributions are earmarked for specific purposes, in this case the rabbinate's educational activities. The sums are significant, and give the rabbinate an advantage over the Education Corps.

Most of the controversial activities are organized by the "Jewish Awareness Department" in the Military Rabbinate, headed by Lt. Col. Zadok (Duki) Ben-Artzi, a former Air Force navigator who became religiously observant. The unit was established in the days of former IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Yisrael Weiss, and was called the "Combat Values branch." However, after Haaretz reported on the activities of the unit in 2001, its name was changed to Jewish Awareness and the IDF announced it would supervise the unit's activities more closely.

Now, it turns out, that its programs have expanded greatly under the command of the present IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Rabbi Avichai Ronski, who assumed his position in 2006. The slogan for the programs is "Jewish awareness for a victorious IDF." Ben-Artzi describes his goal as "strengthening the combat spirit and [sense of] mission in military service."

Ben-Artzi operates a telephone call center for units and offers services that are clearly under the purview of the Education Corps, such as programs and information on historic battles of the IDF and learning about the land of Israel. The unit offers to organize activities and programs "based on biblical sources, appropriate for all soldiers and commanders, also for those who do not come from a religious background," states one of its brochures. "The Jewish Awareness unit specializes in organizing the activities from start to finish," it states.

The unit circulates a number of publications, including a booklet for "commanders from a Jewish viewpoint," and one for combat soldiers "to strengthen their spirit before battle." The unit also offers advice and help in writing and updating materials for courses, including integrating programs and materials on Jewish awareness in the courses. It also offers seminars and conferences all over the country.

In particular, it hosts IDF units weekends and, the jewel in the crown, a Shabbat in Jerusalem. The free weekend is something which the Education Corps cannot compete with.

It operates these weekends in close coordination with the right wing Elad non-profit organization, which works to expand Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem and, in particular, in the village of Silwan.

A senior officer told Haaretz: "The temptation on the part of a battalion commander is great. From his point of view, he is getting a weekend for forging group spirit for the battalion, at the price of only a few hours of discussion with the rabbi. Every commander wants to strengthen values, and some of the commanders are religious and, in any case, agree with the Chief Military Rabbi. Few are aware of the nuances, or are aware that religious and nationalistic preaching is entering through the backdoor. This is a gross invasion of the Education Corps area, which does not approve the content and the exploitation of soldiers, who are a captive audience, coming for the Sabbath under orders. Ronski and his subordinates are breaking the status quo operating in the IDF from the days of Ben-Gurion," said the officer.

At the beginning of the year, after numerous reports from his officers, the Chief Education officer, Brig. Gen. Eli Shermeister, asked the former head of the Human Resources Branch, Maj. Gen. Elazar Stern, to hold an urgent meeting on the matter. Stern ruled the Rabbinate was not allowed to invade the Education Corps' areas of operation without coordination. However, Ben-Artzi was heard to say to his soldiers immediately afterward: "We are continuing as usual."

The IDF Spokesman responded to a request from Haaretz on the matter saying, "The Chief of Staff recently gave the head of the Manpower Branch, Maj. Gen. Avi Samir, an order to hold orderly discussions and present him with his recommendations as to the coordination and borders between the Education Corps and the Military Rabbinate. In principle, the responsibility for education in the IDF belongs to the Education Corps, including writing and distributing various course materials, educational seminars, weekends, etc."

The IDF Spokesman added that the rabbinate receives donations from the two bodies legally authorized to do so. However, other military sources said the supervision on such donations is minimal and the IDF has only limited knowledge of the contributions the Rabbinate receives.

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      1.   Brainwashing? 06:23  |  Ben Israel 23/10/08
      2.   Brainwashing ! 07:29  |  DG 23/10/08
      3.   No Such Thing As Education Without Torah 07:35  |  Yishai Kohen 23/10/08
      4.   brain cleaning(not washing) 07:52  |  laura 23/10/08
      5.   What;s wrong with that? 08:23  |  Ephraim 23/10/08
      6.   A sad reaction 08:37  |  Assaf 23/10/08
      7.   It didn`t seem to bother the left 08:41  |  Zev 23/10/08
      8.   God`s Jewish Warriors 08:43  |  POP 23/10/08
      9.   Brainwashing of the Left 09:18  |  David 23/10/08
      10.   Look who`s Talking Now! 09:27  |  Anat 23/10/08
      11.   good old haaretz 09:35  |  dave 23/10/08
      12.   Turnabout is fair play! 09:39  |  Zev Davis 23/10/08
      13.   Imagine that 09:47  |  Moshe 23/10/08
      14.   It is for the benefit of the soldiers 10:04  |  Manoa S Kaleca 23/10/08
      15.   The trouble is that.... 10:04  |  Esther 23/10/08
      16.   # 3 Yishai and his religious coercion 10:14  |  avi 23/10/08
      17.   Why do we bluff ourselves...? 10:26  |  Esther 23/10/08
      18.   #16 Avi And His Anti-Religious/Leftist Coercion 10:26  |  Yishai Kohen 23/10/08
      19.   SCIENTOLOGY DO IT TOO 10:28  |  Alka Seltzer 23/10/08
      20.   Esther - the trouble is... 10:32  |  sh 23/10/08
      21.   Brainwashing: Job description 10:41  |  k 23/10/08
      22.   To all you fans, you seem to have missed this: 10:41  |  sh 23/10/08
      23.   Yishai #18 misses the point 11:03  |  avi 23/10/08
      24.   Leftie Esther,your immediate ancestors were brainwashed by Herzel 11:11  |  Absolute Sweden 23/10/08
      25.   What is the problem?Everyone knows it`s Jewish law .It`s 11:13  |  David 23/10/08
      26.   Brainwashing 11:13  |  Mordechai 23/10/08
      27.   #23 Avi Misses The Point 11:18  |  Yishai Kohen 23/10/08
      28.   Yishai in with Hamas there 11:21  |  Murray 23/10/08
      29.   A BLIND IDF 11:28  |  indrajaya 23/10/08
      30.   Secular Status Quo and Peace 11:38  |  Daniel Garcia 23/10/08
      31.   One would think the "Gott mit uns" war slogan is dead... 11:47  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      32.   #27 Yishai just dosent get it 12:07  |  avi 23/10/08
      33.   THE REAL PROBLEM 12:10  |  ron 23/10/08
      34.   Yes, Jewish Heritage is bad, I want to remain Ignorant PigEater 12:12  |  Leftist Israeli 23/10/08
      35.   Avi wants to force his non-Jewish values on the rest of us 12:18  |  Yehoshua 23/10/08
      36.   What did they expect? 12:22  |  Ben Azai 23/10/08
      37.   #32 Avi STILL Doesn`t Get It 12:23  |  Yishai Kohen 23/10/08
      38.   just look at yourselves people! 12:45  |  m 23/10/08
      39.   preaching is entering THROUGH THE BACK DOOR?! 12:52  |  K 23/10/08
      40.   #25, David and the invention of "Hebrew Warrior type" p. 1. 13:03  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      41.   no sukka 13:12  |  esther 23/10/08
      42.   #25, David and the invention of "Hebrew Warrior type" p. 2. 13:23  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      43.   What would Karl Marx say? 13:30  |  Yosef 23/10/08
      44.   Moredchai, nobody is being "brainwashed" 13:32  |  Zev Davis 23/10/08
      45.   Yishai Kohen 13:33  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      46.   laura 13:38  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      47.   Egads! More Jews in Jerusalem! 13:39  |  Zev Davis 23/10/08
      48.   The only Brain Washing going on is by the secular bolshiviks 13:41  |  Jew 23/10/08
      49.   David 13:44  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      50.   Anat 13:46  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      51.   #37 Yishai Kohen never will get it 13:47  |  avi 23/10/08
      52.   #45, lady from USA to Y. Cohen 13:50  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      53.   The Irony is that Arabs have more respect for Religious Jews 14:03  |  Simon 23/10/08
      54.   The Arabs have more respect II 14:23  |  Simon 23/10/08
      55.   Rabbi`s and brainwashing 14:25  |  Hans 23/10/08
      56.   To the Jew # 48 14:28  |  Hans 23/10/08
      57.   Theoretectically the Left could do something similar 14:34  |  Shlomo 23/10/08
      58.   #51 Avi: I DO Get It: Sadly, You Don`t 14:37  |  Yishai Kohen 23/10/08
      59.   Simon 14:38  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      60.   lady from usa- not the new testament; or the koran 14:41  |  Chana 23/10/08
      61.   The Israel Defense Force 14:49  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      62.   When God is with you 14:51  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      63.   Rabbi`s job is to teach 14:55  |  Gershon 23/10/08
      64.   Pop 15:04  |  Pamela 23/10/08
      65.   #58, Yishai Kohen to Avi. The law and the law. 15:04  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      66.   Avi Ramat Aviv 15:13  |  Pamela 23/10/08
      67.   The best Army manual 15:19  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      68.   Alka Seltzer 15:21  |  Pamela 23/10/08
      69.   Chana 15:29  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      70.   #62 lady from USA. I have a theological question. 15:30  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      71.   Avi Ramat Aviv32 15:32  |  Pamela 23/10/08
      72.   Shlomo 15:32  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      73.   Brainwashing is what the Left need 15:33  |  rich 23/10/08
      74.   Religious army ? 15:37  |  Charles 23/10/08
      75.   Lady of USA 15:40  |  Pamela 23/10/08
      76.   An army being privatized 15:49  |  Raffaele Ladu 23/10/08
      77.   Wouldn`t it be brainwashing by Education Corps too? 16:05  |  Ilan 23/10/08
      78.   #25, Rightie Absolute Sweden...to Esther 16:32  |  Silvienne 23/10/08
      79.   Hans in Herziliya 16:33  |  rich 23/10/08
      80.   #39, K....typical "Kathy" post... 16:36  |  Silvienne 23/10/08
      81.   lady from "US" 16:45  |  Guy from US 23/10/08
      82.   security danger 16:59  |  michael 23/10/08
      83.   one more thing Lady 17:04  |  Guy from US 23/10/08
      84.   Insanity. More Anti Judaism from Israeli Establishment 17:08  |  Jewish State 23/10/08
      85.   To # 79 17:16  |  Hans 23/10/08
      86.   Holy cow! 18:00  |  Motic 23/10/08
      87.   zmogus 18:06  |  lady from USA 23/10/08
      88.   Yishai as is... 18:14  |  Esther 23/10/08
      89.   Yishai Yishai Yishai I LOVE YOU 18:39  |  Ahavat Yisroel 23/10/08
      90.   #87, lady from USA. I still have the theological question. 19:00  |  zmogus 23/10/08
      91.   Biblical wars 19:10  |  David 23/10/08
      92.   Precedents 19:48  |  Colin Wright 23/10/08
      93.   You`re in the army now 21:15  |  Elihu 23/10/08
      94.   To Simon/Yishai Kohen 21:35  |  Muslim 23/10/08
      95.   #3 21:52  |  J. B. 23/10/08
      96.   Avi- #51 22:02  |  Joey 23/10/08
      97.   #94- Muslim 22:14  |  Joey 23/10/08
      98.   # 80 22:21  |  K 23/10/08
      99.   Brainwashing? MORE LIKE WASHING THE BRAIN! 22:24  |  Tzvi 23/10/08
      100.   Jews for Judaism 22:35  |  Bar_Lev 23/10/08
      101.   So what`s the problem? Some Jews definitely need brains washed.. 22:35  |  bat yam 23/10/08
      102.   Brainwashing 22:50  |  Bar -Lev 23/10/08
      103.   The IDF has its own Madrassas? 23:31  |  BBSNews 23/10/08
      104.   #99, Tzvi, Louis Farakkhan will be happy to give you an Amen 00:13  |  newageblues 24/10/08
      105.   At least it beats Haaretz` Israel bashing 00:44  |  Ben Menachem 24/10/08
      106.   One would think the "Gott mit uns" war slogan is dead... 01:49  |  Mark Lincoln 24/10/08
      107.   Avi - the fact of the matter 01:52  |  Mark Lincoln 24/10/08
      108.   If it is any consolation 01:56  |  Mark Lincoln 24/10/08
      109.   If it is any consolation 01:56  |  Mark Lincoln 24/10/08
      110.   # 1 to ben israel re: "brainwashing" 05:27  |  eric 24/10/08
      111.   # 105 yeah but ben menachem... 05:36  |  eric 24/10/08
      112.   nice going Gaabi! 05:56  |  Mark 24/10/08
      113.   Israel is a brainwashing society!! 06:00  |  Niva dos Santos 24/10/08
      114.   eric I wonder... 06:58  |  BBSNews 24/10/08
      115.   and bbsnews, i wonder... 09:26  |  eric 24/10/08
      116.   #115, eric. sorry to interrupt you, 15:09  |  zmogus 24/10/08
      117.   #115, eric. sorry to interrupt you, 23:38  |  zmogus 24/10/08
      118.   Sex and the IDF 23:39  |  zmogus 24/10/08
      119.   Compulsary religious instruction is required by the Al Qeada also 02:00  |  American in NY 25/10/08
      120.   Guy from US - to question 2 18:07  |  lady from USA 25/10/08
      121.   # 117 to zmogus re: iraq 08:31  |  eric 26/10/08
      122.   JESUSALEN 01:05  |  cristian 28/10/08
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