Hundreds of religious Zionist yeshiva students from across Israel proudly begin IDF service, fusing faith and duty in the Hesder combat track.
In a moving display of unity, purpose, and pride, hundreds of young men from hesder yeshivas across Israel reported for duty on Wednesday at the Tel Hashomer recruitment center, officially kicking off their IDF service on the Hesder combat track.
The Hesder program, a hallmark of Israel’s religious-Zionist community, allows students to combine intensive Torah study with active military service. Typically, recruits spend two years in yeshiva, followed by a shortened army service and a final period of continued Torah learning.
But the atmosphere at Tel Hashomer was anything but routine — singing, dancing, and expressions of faith turned the enlistment event into a powerful statement of spiritual and national commitment.
“It’s a tremendous privilege to begin our service together, grounded in Torah and driven by a sense of purpose,” said one new recruit. “We truly feel that we’re doing the right thing.”
Recruits hailed from some of Israel’s most respected yeshivot, including Yeshivat Nir, Yeshivat Tefachot, Yeshivat Har Etzion, and Yeshivat Orot Shaul — with many slated to join the Kfir Brigade, known for its intensive ground combat operations.
Others from Yeshivat Avinoam in the newly established town of Evyatar in Samaria, and from Yeshivat Elon Moreh, will enter the elite Nahal Brigade, continuing the legacy of Torah-rooted soldiers protecting the Land of Israel.
This wave of enlistment marks not just a military milestone, but a cultural and spiritual moment — reinforcing the religious-Zionist ideal of “Torah v’Avodah” — Torah and service — where defending the Jewish people is seen not as a duty, but as a sacred mission.
