Faith under fire: More religious Israeli women are answering the call to combat

The Israeli Air Force is launching its first dedicated all-female combat unit for religious women in November, reflecting a growing trend within Religious Zionism to reconcile faith with frontline military service. This initiative, developed in partnership with Ma’aminot BeMadim (“Believers in Uniform”), an Ohr Torah Stone program, will prepare recruits for defending Air Force bases and strategic assets, providing advanced combat training alongside ongoing religious guidance.

The young religious women choosing combat roles speak much more about getting under the stretcher and sharing the burden.

Rabbanit Hila Naor, director of Ma’aminot BeMadim, notes that the conversation among religious women has shifted dramatically, with many feeling it is their turn to help defend the country. Rabbi Ohad Teharlev, founder of Ma’aminot BeMadim, states that the demand for combat roles among religious women has surged, with approximately 800 graduates of Israel’s state religious school system expected to enter combat roles this year, double the previous year's number. The program also provides crucial personal and family support, as many women face challenges reconciling their military service with community expectations.