05.01.2012 - 12:02 [ Haaretz ]

Extremist rabbis sabotage ultra-Orthodox integration

The resignation of the Israel Air Force‘s chief rabbi, Lt. Col. Moshe Ravad, from the Shahar program integrating ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army is a troubling action whose consequences could be dire. In citing his reasons for leaving Shahar, Rabbi Ravad cited possible changes to the program and the Israel Defense Forces‘ clarifications this week of policies surrounding the controversial issue of women singing at military events.