Insights from Haredi soldiers of Tuvia’s Battalion who served in 1948 War of Independence

The wheels are already in motion for ultra-Orthodox, Haredi, men to appear for recruitment into the Israeli military. Recently, Israel Defense Forces issued its first set of military draft orders to ultra-Orthodox young men via SMS. The call-up of 1,000 Haredi men, with another 2,000 expected over the following four weeks, was in response to the Israeli High Court’s unanimous ruling in June.

The ruling ordered the State of Israel to end the legal exemption of ultra-Orthodox men studying in religious schools from being drafted for army service, or face a suspension of funding. All nine justices agreed that no legal framework exists to continue the exemption that differentiates between young ultra-Orthodox men and every other 18-year-old Israeli who is obligated to serve in the IDF.

This is especially true now, as Israel is in the midst of a war in Gaza against the Hamas terrorist organization and facing threats from multiple fronts, including Hezbollah forces in Lebanon, Houthi rebels from Yemen, and other terror proxies of the Iranian regime, which also launched a direct missile and drone attack against Israel in April.

However, many leading rabbis continue to strongly condemn the enlistment of Haredi students, asserting that ultra-Orthodox men should not enlist in the army altogether.

The debate over the enlistment of Haredi Jews in the IDF debate is deeply rooted in Israeli history and continues to be relevant. Its roots can be traced as far back as 1948, when tensions were high and Israel was fighting for its very existence in the War of Independence. Those same tensions exist today, with questions about the whether yeshiva students should set aside their studies to serve in the military.

In 1948, Tuvia Bier, a former member of the Haganah – a Jewish paramilitary organization in British Mandate Palestine from 1920 to 1948 and which ultimately became the core of the IDF – gathered young Haredi recruits and established a new battalion for yeshiva students. His dedication to the unit earned him the honor of having the battalion named "Gdud Tuvia" (Tuvia’s Battalion).

The soldiers in Tuvia’s Battalion demonstrated that Torah study and military service could coexist, with many of its members viewing their military service as a sacred duty. The National Library of Israel contains rare documents that describe the experiences of those Haredi students who considered their military service a profound mission.

In May 1948, shortly after the State of Israel was established, ultra-Orthodox students were called up for military service as a result of an agreement between the yeshivas (schools for religious studies) and the IDF enlistment offices. According to the agreement, exceptional students would be exempted, and the enlistment conditions would allow recruits from the yeshivas to continue their Torah studies during their military service.

Of the 900 called up, only 370 soldiers reported for duty, apparently because their rabbis told them to. Of the remaining would-be recruits, 270 received medical exemptions and another 260 were exempted for “spiritual” reasons.

The new Haredi soldiers of Tuvia’s Battalion were not sent to the front lines due to their lack of firearm training and a lack of time to train them in other military skills. There were also concerns that losing them in battle would devastate the world of Torah study.

Instead, the new recruits worked on fortifications to strengthen Jerusalem, which was being bombarded at the time. They worked one to two days a week during the night – for security reasons – and spent the rest of their time studying Torah with minimal disruptions.

The battalion remained active for seven months before being disbanded.

While many praised the Haredi soldiers for their willingness to sacrifice for their homeland, others criticized the emphasis on fortification work, seeing it as a way to avoid combat. And there was a new debate on whether the battalion's contributions justified the interruptions in Torah study.

The soldiers of Tuvia’s Battalion produced their own magazine called “Hamivtzar” (The Fortress). Despite the limited run – a total of two issues – it provided a platform for the Haredi recruits to read, learn and express themselves.

These documents, preserved in the Defense Establishment Archives, offer readers unique insights into the soldiers' thoughts and feelings at the time. The soldiers grappled with the dilemma of their enlistment, questioning whether it was appropriate to set aside their Torah studies to help fortify Jerusalem.

One soldier, identified as “M.S.” posed a question and offered a response.

“Despite all the doubts, despite all the questions burning through every yeshiva student’s mind: Is this even my duty at all? Am I obligated to serve in any role in the war effort beyond my usual role as a yeshiva student, which is no less crucial than any other military role..?” he wrote.

His response on the next page: “This is the duty of every Jew in general, and our duty as yeshiva students in particular. We are the next link of the golden chain of the Torah of Israel, in action and deed. We are pulling the chariot of the people up a treacherous slope towards the pinnacle of the hoped-for redemption. We are the ones! This is our contemporary duty!”

Moreover, the yeshiva students emphasized that despite the mission they were given to serve the State of Israel, they would never forget their primary task: To study Torah.

One wrote: “Our role so far has been fortification works, and indeed it is not an easy task. We require significant activity and heightened dedication, and at times, even significant risk, to fulfill this duty… However, precisely because of the importance and value of this task, we must not forget the essence, that the task imposed upon us should never lead us to neglect our primary role, which is the study and observance of the commandments of the Torah.”

Some who contributed to the magazine said they viewed their military service as a necessary step in the redemption of Israel, while others were content with doing what needed to be done under the circumstances or because the rabbis told them to.

A soldier named Mordechai viewed his IDF service as a sacred duty. Under the heading, “Shema Yisrael” [Hear Ye, O Israe], he wrote the following: “Students of Torah, dwellers of the beit midrash, oarsmen in the sea of Talmud, a tribe of priests whose generous spirit led them to take part in our liberation struggle, these are the anointed priests who must bring the word of God into the Israeli military camp.”

He continued: “You are soldiers of Hashem, you must raise your voice on high, to restore the pure faith in the Eternal One of Israel who will not disappoint. For your eyes have seen what He has done for us when we stood few against many – many soldiers and many weapons – and we saw His greatness and wonders, it is upon you to illuminate with the light of your Torah the hearts of our soldiers who dedicate their lives for the sanctity of the nation and homeland.”

The legacy of Tuvia’s Battalion has served as the foundation for the Hesder Yeshiva-military service programs and unique IDF battalions like “Netzah Yehuda” (Judah’s Victory), whose soldiers were praised by IDF Chief Lt.-Col. Herzi Halevi for being “pioneers” in showing how it is possible to study Torah while serving in the military.

Tuvia’s son, Kobi Bier, later recalled: “Dad didn’t grasp the enormity of the historical moment in real time; he simply did what he did because he thought it was the right thing to do.”

“I think with a bit of goodwill, we can resolve the intense debate over the enlistment of Haredi Jews by using this model.”