As tens of thousands of reservists are being called up to the northern front in the battle against Hezbollah in Lebanon, all logistical operations are kicking it up a notch. With the start of the Yamim Noraim and Succos approaching, flying under the radar is the fact that the role of the Israel Defense Forces’ Rabbanut just got tougher as well. It was never going to be easy providing for soldiers’ spiritual needs in the Gaza Strip during the Yomim Tovim, and the recent escalation with Hezbollah to the north has only deepened the challenge.

Yet, under the directive of the IDF Chief Rabbi, Brig. Gen. Eyal Krim, the Military Rabbanut has set itself the mission of ensuring that every soldier hears the sounding of the shofar—whether in Gaza or on base, in combat or on guard duty. To meet this challenge, the Military Rabbinate has supplied an enormous quantity of 5,800 shofars—selected from a much larger sample—to meet the highest standards of halacha.

An additional aspect of preparing for the Yamim Noraim and Sukkos during multi-front combat involves the IDF Rabbanut gearing up to offer extensive support to reach all soldiers in the field. Along those lines, the Military Rabbanut has supplied some 80,000 Machzorim for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos, including about 25,000 pocket-sized editions adapted for combat soldiers.

How does one fulfill the Mitzvah of sukkah while fighting in Gaza? Or in the north?

In the latest edition of Israeli innovation, the IDF Rabbanut has commissioned a special model of an “Operational Sukkah”: the “Frontline Soldier’s Sukkah.” It meets all the requirements of Halacha for a Sukkah, but it is no traditional Sukkah. Remarkably enough, it can be quickly assembled, disassembled and carried with one’s gear from place to place to suit the challenging conditions faced by soldiers in the field.

Additionally, the Military Rabbanut has issued more than 12,000 sets of Arbah Minim (selected from a sample of some 25,000 sets) that have been thoroughly checked by the Rabbanut’s branch of Halacha to ensure that every soldier can fulfill the Mitzvah of Arbah Minim.

The Rabbanut notes that the distribution of this equipment has been ongoing for weeks due to the logistical complexity of reaching tens of thousands of regular and reserve soldiers spread throughout the country in various states of readiness. (JNS)

{Matzav.com Israel}