On the eve of Rosh Hashanah, President Isaac Herzog saluted the Hashmonaim Brigade, Israel’s first Haredi combat unit, calling their service both pioneering and sacred while urging national unity and resolve to bring home hostages.
In a moving pre–Rosh Hashanah toast with the Hashmonaim Brigade, President Isaac Herzog honored the courage and sacrifice of Israel’s newest Haredi combat soldiers.
Herzog told the troops:
“This Rosh Hashanah, as the entire nation gathers for prayer and self-reflection, we all remember your bravery, your dedication, and the heavy price Israeli society pays in this war. The IDF, with its strength and steadfastness, is our protector—and it is also our hope for security and a better future.”
The president emphasized the historic role of the brigade, which represents the first time a full Haredi unit has been integrated into the IDF. He hailed their service as a “noble, sacred, and important mission,” balanced with Torah study as a supreme national value.
“You are pioneers at the forefront, redeeming the land and establishing the first Haredi brigade in Israel’s history,” Herzog said, framing their service as both spiritual and national redemption.
Turning to the plight of the hostages still held by Hamas, Herzog declared:
“Our highest duty as a society and as a nation is to bring them home—every last one. Our hearts are with the families of the captives every moment, and we pledge not to stop until they all return.”
Concluding with his Rosh Hashanah blessing, Herzog urged Israelis to make 5786 “a year of decisive action, a year of resilience, a year of return—of soldiers from the battlefield, of captives to their homes, and of our people to unity, security, and hope.”
For Israel, the message was unmistakable: faith, sacrifice, and national strength must walk hand-in-hand.
