Outgoing Defense Minister Ehud Barak has given official status to two additional hesder yeshivas, bringing the number of hesder yeshivas nationwide to 47. One of the new yeshivas is in Kiryat Gat. The second, which was started about four years ago, has now received official recognition. It has about 45 talmidim, some already serving in the IDF.

Barak’s decision was prompted in part by the realization the hesder soldiers are highly motivated and over the years, have significantly contributed to the IDF, as was recently seen in Operation Cast Lead.

Just recently former IDF Chief of Human Resources Branch Major-General Elazar Stern worked tenaciously to dissolve the hesder system.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)