Two organizations are challenging the Military Rabbinate's power in determining religious matters, particularly food, in the Israel Defense Forces.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The Secular Forum NGO and the Hiddush organization turned to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi with the request to allow soldiers to eat non-kosher food outside army base dining halls after receiving many complaints on the matter.
Hiddush "works to implement the basic values guaranteed in Israel's Declaration of Independence," and the Secular Forum works to battle "religious radicalization" in the government.
"There is no dispute about the importance of keeping kosher and the IDF's obligation to provide kosher food to soldiers who are interested in it, in accordance with their religious beliefs," the two organizations explained. "However, such strict adherence is a violation of the rights of soldiers who do not eat kosher food alone."
Currently, soldiers can bring their own food onto army bases and even store them in refrigerators and kitchenettes in airtight containers. However, they are strictly forbidden from eating or heating it, not even by using their personal electrical appliances.
The forums further alleged that the prohibition to eat non-kosher food on the base was issued without authority and is illegal, as is the ban to heat food using personal appliances, including on Shabbat.
They said that the Military Rabbinate's authority is limited to food served to soldiers in the dining hall, and they could not impose kashrut rules on soldiers eating their own food in kitchenettes, living rooms or offices.
"IDF soldiers and officers also have the right to enjoy the freedom of religion and thought ensured in the Declaration of Independence," President of Hiddush Rabbi Uri Regev said.
"The rights of secular soldiers, including non-Jews, must be respected as much as the rights of those who observe kashrut and Shabbat. If the military refuses to recognize this, we will not hesitate to take this matter to court to ban religious coercion and to limit their power."
Chairman of Secular Forum Ram Fruman concurred.
"There is no justification for a secular soldier not to be able to eat non-kosher food outside IDF dining rooms, or to cook it himself, kosher or not, including on Shabbat," he said, adding that the Rabbinate's interference with the matter, includings soldiers cooking using personal appliances was "absurd."
Torat Lechima, an NGO that works towards "maintaining the IDF's Jewish identity" criticized the move.
"Since its inception, the IDF has viewed kashrut as the cornerstone of the Jewish identity of the only Jewish military in the world," it said.
"The military command was clear, in that it forbade bringing in any non-kosher food into military institutions, and religious, secular and traditional [Israelis] lived in this idyll for over 70 years.
"In recent years, progressive organizations have been insatiable at gnawing away at anything that makes the IDF Jewish, in terms of Shabbat, kashrut, burial and the important status of the Military Rabbinate… We call on Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi to reject these attempts to undermine the IDF and to weaken the military's identity as victorious Jewish army."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
