The Haredi who enlisted at 30 – and sparked a revolution in the holidays for soldiers on the front

Israel Goldman, a Haredi man who enlisted at age 30 following October 7, serves as the rabbinical NCO of the Mountain Brigade. In an interview with Channel 14, he describes his role, which includes overseeing kashrut, religious articles, and building sukkahs at outposts, and the significance of bringing the holiday to soldiers far from home.

Israel Goldman, 30, from a Haredi background, enlisted in the IDF about two weeks after the October 7, 2023 massacre. Initially, he took part in body recovery missions, and after a brief basic training, he moved on to a series of roles in the Military Rabbinate. Today, he serves as the rabbinical NCO of the Mountain Brigade, a role that involves daily travel between the outposts of Mount Dov and Mount Hermon, ensuring kashrut, supplying religious articles such as tallits and kippahs, and affixing mezuzahs in new outposts. Ahead of the holidays, Goldman arranges the construction of sukkahs, shofars for Rosh Hashanah, and other equipment. He was selected as the outstanding soldier of the Northern Command last year. Goldman emphasizes that his work is relevant to all soldiers, including those who are not religious, and that his goal is to allow every soldier to experience the holiday in a meaningful way. The article presents a favorable profile of a significant Haredi soldier, highlighting his contribution and sacrifice, within the framework of a channel identified with the political right.