Netzah Yehuda Battalion
Encyclopedia
The Netzah Yehuda Battalion (also known as Nahal Haredi ) is a battalion
in the Kfir Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces
(IDF). The purpose of the unit is to allow religious Israelis to serve in the IDF in an atmosphere conducive to their religious convictions, within a framework that is strictly halachically
observant. The battalion's main action area is Jenin
.
Netzah Yehuda's official battalion number is 97.
The battalion runs like every combat unit in the IDF. Training in the battalion is that of IDF infantry: four months of basic training followed by an additional three months of advanced training.
Today, at any given time, the battalion holds close to 1,000 soldiers, including two full companies in training, one company in beginning of active service, and two Combat Units: Palchod (Recon/ First Company) and Mesaiat (Rifleman Company). A third Combat Unit, Mivtzayit, was opened in October 2009, due to the large number of soldiers joining the battalion in the most recent drafts. In the past there was a small special forces platoon (Machsar) composed of soldiers from the battalion but was disbanded shortly after Lt. Colonel Dror Shpigel became commander of the battalion.
As the battalion places great emphasis on accommodating the religious needs of the soldiers the Netzah Yehuda bases follow the highest standards of Jewish dietary laws and the only women permitted on these bases are wives of soldiers and officers.
As the battalion runs on a voluntary basis and does not draft soldiers, it is one of the few units in the IDF which depends on a recruitment mechanism for new troops. It actively recruits soldiers from Hareidi, Dati, and Chardal families; there are also many volunteers from overseas who enlist.
area. The soldiers regularly go out on arrests and missions in the West Bank
area with a high rate of success.
The battalion
lost its first casualty on August 19, 2006 when a Palestinian gunman from the city of Tammun
shot from close range, and killed, Staff Sergeant
Roe Farjune at the Beka'ot
Checkpoint east of Nablus
. Nearby Netzah Yehuda soldiers killed the gunman shortly after.
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
in the Kfir Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces , commonly known in Israel by the Hebrew acronym Tzahal , are the military forces of the State of Israel. They consist of the ground forces, air force and navy. It is the sole military wing of the Israeli security forces, and has no civilian jurisdiction within Israel...
(IDF). The purpose of the unit is to allow religious Israelis to serve in the IDF in an atmosphere conducive to their religious convictions, within a framework that is strictly halachically
Halakha
Halakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
observant. The battalion's main action area is Jenin
Jenin
Jenin is the largest town in the Northern West Bank, and the third largest city overall. It serves as the administrative center of the Jenin Governorate and is a major agricultural center for the surrounding towns. In 2007, the city had a population of 120,004 not including the adjacent refugee...
.
History & Structure
The battalion was founded in 1999, and originally contained only 30 soldiers. It was started after about 18 months of discussions between a group of Chareidi educators led by Rabbi Yitzhak Bar Chaim and the IDF. As of 2009, the battalion had grown to over 1,000 soldiers, and has reached the status of a fully functioning battalion. The battalion recently marked its 20th draft.Netzah Yehuda's official battalion number is 97.
The battalion runs like every combat unit in the IDF. Training in the battalion is that of IDF infantry: four months of basic training followed by an additional three months of advanced training.
Today, at any given time, the battalion holds close to 1,000 soldiers, including two full companies in training, one company in beginning of active service, and two Combat Units: Palchod (Recon/ First Company) and Mesaiat (Rifleman Company). A third Combat Unit, Mivtzayit, was opened in October 2009, due to the large number of soldiers joining the battalion in the most recent drafts. In the past there was a small special forces platoon (Machsar) composed of soldiers from the battalion but was disbanded shortly after Lt. Colonel Dror Shpigel became commander of the battalion.
Religious Accommodation
The battalion's motto is "V'haya Machanecha Kadosh", "And Your [military] camp shall be holy", a phrase taken from the Torah describing the importance of keeping a Jewish military camp free of sin or ritually unclean objects (in exchange for Divine assistance in battle).As the battalion places great emphasis on accommodating the religious needs of the soldiers the Netzah Yehuda bases follow the highest standards of Jewish dietary laws and the only women permitted on these bases are wives of soldiers and officers.
As the battalion runs on a voluntary basis and does not draft soldiers, it is one of the few units in the IDF which depends on a recruitment mechanism for new troops. It actively recruits soldiers from Hareidi, Dati, and Chardal families; there are also many volunteers from overseas who enlist.
Combat
The unit is responsible for certain areas of operation around the JeninJenin
Jenin is the largest town in the Northern West Bank, and the third largest city overall. It serves as the administrative center of the Jenin Governorate and is a major agricultural center for the surrounding towns. In 2007, the city had a population of 120,004 not including the adjacent refugee...
area. The soldiers regularly go out on arrests and missions in the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
area with a high rate of success.
The battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
lost its first casualty on August 19, 2006 when a Palestinian gunman from the city of Tammun
Tammun
Tammun is a Palestinian town in the Tubas Governorate, located 23 kilometers northeast of Nablus and five kilometers south of Tubas in the northeastern West Bank. Tammun has a population of approximately 10,500 inhabitants.-History:...
shot from close range, and killed, Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
Roe Farjune at the Beka'ot
Beka'ot
Beka'ot is a moshav and Israeli settlement in the West Bank. Located in the Jordan Valley with an area of 1,800 dunams, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 171...
Checkpoint east of Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
. Nearby Netzah Yehuda soldiers killed the gunman shortly after.