By: Fern Sidman

In a scene both solemn and celebratory, the Western Wall Plaza bore witness on Wednesday to a profound moment in the history of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the charedi community. As reported by VIN News, the first regular combat battalion of the newly established Chashmonaim Brigade completed their beret march in a moving and emotionally charged ceremony, marking the culmination of their rigorous eight-month training program.

The event, which began in the early morning hours, drew dozens of families, commanders, and community members to Jerusalem’s Old City. The soldiers—members of a battalion composed entirely of ultra-Orthodox (charedi) recruits—set out at first light, marching from a designated point and rendezvousing with their families at Jaffa Gate. From there, the soldiers and their loved ones proceeded together to the Western Wall Plaza, where the ceremony took place.

According to the information provided in the VIN News report, the ceremony was punctuated by prayers, embraces, and a sense of deep pride among participants. The soldiers gathered for a heartfelt Shacharit (morning prayer service) before being formally awarded their berets—a traditional military rite of passage that signifies completion of combat training and induction into active service.

The beret march and ceremony marked the end of a demanding training cycle for the Chashmonaim recruits. As VIN News reported, the soldiers completed four months of basic training followed by four additional months of advanced instruction, all tailored to prepare them for full combat duty within the IDF’s operational framework.

Their training regimen included a full range of combat disciplines, from weapons handling and urban warfare to physical endurance, navigation, and command structure drills. Despite the rigorous nature of the program, special accommodations were made to ensure that every aspect of the training adhered to strict halachic (Jewish legal) guidelines.

The Chashmonaim Brigade, according to IDF officials quoted by VIN News, represents a carefully designed solution to the complex challenge of integrating devoutly observant soldiers into the military without compromising their religious values or community standards.

Established with the express goal of creating a military environment aligned with the norms and sensitivities of the charedi world, the Chashmonaim Brigade is structured around halachic compliance, spiritual integrity, and rabbinic oversight.

As VIN News has previously noted, the brigade provides a service path that is “strictly kosher” not only in terms of dietary adherence, but also in spiritual orientation, scheduling of Torah study, separation from secular influences, and religious lifestyle.

Each unit within the brigade is overseen by IDF rabbis and specially trained commanders who themselves come from religious backgrounds. This ensures that discipline and military professionalism go hand-in-hand with Torah observance and the maintenance of religious norms.

The success of the first regular combat battalion to complete the full training track signals that the Chashmonaim Brigade is not only viable but flourishing.

The Chashmonaim Brigade’s emergence as a legitimate and structured combat unit is viewed by many within both the military establishment and the religious community as a watershed development. For years, charedi participation in the IDF has been minimal, with many citing concerns over exposure to secular influences, halachic compromises, and the inability to maintain Torah study.

In light of these challenges, the Chashmonaim Brigade was envisioned as a bridge between two deeply held values: national defense and religious devotion. As the report at VIN News explained, the brigade is seen as a meaningful alternative to the historic tension between charedi values and military service.

“This is not merely a battalion,” one senior IDF officer told VIN News on condition of anonymity. “It is a doorway into a new era of cooperation and understanding between the state and the charedi community.”

The choice of location for the beret ceremony—the Western Wall, or Kotel—was deliberate and symbolically powerful. As reported by VIN News, the Kotel, considered Judaism’s holiest accessible site, served as a poignant backdrop to the event, underscoring the spiritual foundation upon which the Chashmonaim Brigade has been built.

For the families who joined their sons at the ceremony, many of whom had never before envisioned military service as a viable or appropriate path, the moment was rich in meaning. “We are so proud of our boys,” said one father quoted by VIN News. “They are showing that it is possible to serve the Jewish people in both body and soul.”

Following the beret ceremony, blessings were recited, and Tehillim (Psalms) were sung, further infusing the occasion with spiritual significance. Commanders and rabbis alike addressed the soldiers, congratulating them on their perseverance and urging them to lead with humility, courage, and integrity.

The newly inducted combat soldiers of the Chashmonaim Brigade are not only preparing for active service—they are also being groomed as the next generation of leaders within the brigade.

According to the VIN News report, these graduates will form the core of the non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps tasked with training future cohorts of recruits. Their experiences, values, and conduct will serve as a model for the brigade’s continued development and institutional integrity.

This peer-led approach is designed to maintain cultural continuity within the unit and to ensure that future recruits see themselves reflected in those who lead them.

While the Chashmonaim Brigade is still in its formative stages, military analysts and community observers see it as a model that may expand in the coming years. As the VIN News report pointed out, the IDF has long struggled with low enlistment numbers from the charedi population, which represents a growing percentage of Israel’s demographic landscape.

The success of this first regular combat battalion could set the precedent for broader integration, provided that the framework continues to balance operational excellence with religious fidelity.

Already, reservists from the charedi community have expressed interest in joining or supporting the brigade, and several yeshivot (Torah academies) have begun referring students for service under the Chashmonaim track.

The journey of the Chashmonaim Brigade is far from over. As Israel continues to navigate complex security challenges, the IDF is investing in units that reflect the diversity and convictions of the society it defends.

The beret ceremony at the Western Wall may be remembered not just as a rite of passage for a group of dedicated young men, but as the beginning of a new chapter in Israel’s national story—one in which the values of Torah and the mission of defense are no longer seen as incompatible, but mutually reinforcing.