One of the issues faced by IDF reservists called up for military service, miluim or emergency duty as was the case in Operation Pillar of Defense, is completing school work. While universities must accommodate the students by law, a soldier is compelled to make up missed studies and after a month or more of annual service (miluim), this is not always an easy task but at least there is a willing party in the university system.

In this particular case the story addresses frum reservists who were called up for the counterterrorism operation in Gaza, and while stationed near the Gaza border waiting for orders, they missed exams towards obtaining smicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. When they were released from duty they immediately turned to the Rabbinate for another test, but unlike the nation’s universities, there was no receptive tone. They were told they may take the next exams in Shulchan Aruch in three months and a special exam would not be given to permit them to remain on their current schedule.

Yisrael HaYom became involved and the newspaper contacted Oded Weiner, a senior official in the Chief Rabbinate. Weiner states he will work something out so the soldiers are not compelled to wait for three months for the missed exam. He explained that after Chanukah a second exam would be given for residents of southern Israel unable to make the first exam along with reservists who were activated for duty.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)