Major Yossi Levy is about to make history by becoming the first chareidi battalion commander in the IDF. He will soon step into this groundbreaking role, paving the way for future leaders in the IDF from the haredi community.
In his civilian career, Levy serves as the CEO of the Netzach Yehuda Organization, where he is responsible for recruiting members of the haredi community to join the IDF and for advancing the cause of haredi combat soldiers.
In a candid interview with Kan News, Levy shared his frustration with the low numbers of haredi soldiers in the military during the war, his concerns about potential social division, and his aspiration that someday, young haredi men will look up to him as a role model.
Levy reflected on his journey, saying, “I am on my fifth round of reserve duty. I started out doing a battalion commanders’ course, and my wife counts that as another round of service. I am going to head an IDF battalion, seems that I am the only chareidi battalion commander, but hopefully the first of many.”
He recalled his experience on the morning of October 7th, saying, “I was called up on the morning of October 7th. It’s very difficult to bring soldiers for another round of reserve duty, when there are those who have done nothing. I am trying to bring more soldiers, to help the ones who have served so much. It’s a financial calculation as well.”
Speaking about the initial response to the war, he noted, “At the outbreak of the war there was a high level of support for the IDF – chareidim said to me, ‘We’re with you, we support you, we’re praying for you, we bring food for the soldiers. At the beginning of the war, many drafted.”
Levy concluded with a call for change: “We need a major change in attitude. Netzach Yehuda has been successful over the years, but we haven’t managed to make a big change in recruitment numbers and that is what we need now.”
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