During the past few days, the Nachal Chareidi battalion has been placed at the Syrian border due to the rise in the state of alertness in that area. Lately, the regiment has been training in Ramat HaGolan but shortly thereafter the chareidi soldiers were spread out along the border in the area of Mount Hermon and Ramat HaGolan. This is actually the first time since operation Pillar of Defense that Nachal Chareidi has been placed at the border of a hostile country ravaged by a drawn-out civil war.

Nachal Chareidi, which is considered the largest combat battalion in the IDF, has just recently started its 15th year of activity. Like all infantry troops, the Nachal’s activities include routine security operations and war on terrorism. Until 2008, the battalion which is part of the Kfir Division was placed in the area of the Spatial Brigade in the Jordan Valley. At the end of that year, the battalion moved to the Menashe Spatial Brigade located in the area of Tulkarem and Jenin and has remained there until its recent change of position. The Nachal will apparently return to that region after it concludes its operations in the area of the Syrian border.

During the past year, the Nachal Chareidi has been awarded many prizes and tokens of esteem for its professionalism. Among other awards, the battalion was awarded a prize by the IDF Commander in Chief for its operational achievements. The battalion has been awarded three additional prizes as well: A prize by the IDF Technology and Logistics Branch Head for the battalion’s exemplary preparedness in the field of logistics, a prize by the Israeli Ground Forces on its commendable preparedness in the field of security and a price from the IDF Paratroopers Infantry Brigade and the Chief Ground Forces for the excellence of its security guard.

One the Rabbis of the Nachal Chareidi Organization, that joined the IDF in founding the battalion and accompanies the chareidi soldiers throughout their military service, notes that “positioning the Nachal Chareidi in a new location, especially at such a ‘hot’ border, is an expression of confidence in the battalion and can be added to its other achievements of the past two years.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)