Major Rabbi Menachem Novik, Rabbi of the Shaked Battalion, Combat Command of the 401st Brigade in the IDF/Shahar Cohen
More than 3 months of fighting in Gaza have led the military rabbinate to face many challenges, but the special initiative of Major Rabbi Menachem Novik, Rabbi of the Shaked Battalion, of the 401st Brigade Combat Command in the IDF - no one has yet thought, and it mainly helps For soldiers who are at the height of war but are also required to prepare for the happiest day of their lives.
Since the beginning of the war, the rabbi took on an important role that provides answers to the soldiers: a guide for grooms who gives the well-known halachic guidance before their marriage.
And so, between combats, when the soldiers stop for breaks, sometimes inside the strip - the rabbi meets them for personal talks and gives them the guidance they need so that they come prepared for the wedding day.
Rabbi Novik, father of a family blessed with children, who also serves as a rabbi in citizenship, described to his relatives about his activities from one of the last nights: "Yesterday I went in with the logistics convoy and it was a long and freezing night. At one point I thought maybe I should have given up, but then I met a religious soldier who is getting married in two months, we started the the study and we agreed that I would give him guidance for grooms every time we met.
Rabbi Novik, who has so far given guidance to a number of soldiers, also testified to his role as a military rabbi on behalf of the military rabbinate: "In every meeting with soldiers, there is always something to give, not to despair and not to let go."
The connection to the field of the military rabbis It is a huge advantage for them, as in this case of Rabbi Novik. The presence of the rabbis in the field alongside their participation in AGM yeshivas and maintaining close contact with the commanders is a huge advantage for them, among other things in halachic ruling, also due to their understanding of reality and the ability to define it in the correct halachic terms for the ruling.
The military rabbinate is an address for 99% of the soldiers in regular and reserve, and these turn to the military rabbi and not to the rabbi of the synagogue in their place of residence, therefore the military rabbinate constantly works to make themselves more accessible to the soldiers.
David Berger, in collaboration with Shuba Israel
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