The Chief Rabbi of the Israeli Air Force, Lt. Moshe Ravad, tendered his resignation on Tuesday from the Shahar project, a program that aims to integrate ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces. Ravad's announcement comes in response to an IDF decision not to excuse religious soldiers from military events in which women sing. Some ultra-Orthodox interpretations of Jewish law forbid men from listening to women sing as it could be sexually arousing. (The Talmud says "a woman's voice is her nakedness," implying that a woman's essence is lustful and indecent.) Ravad explained his resignation, saying the new IDF regulations would impede observant soldiers' ability to serve. In a letter addressed to Maj.-Gen. Orna Barbivai, the head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, Ravad wrote that "the main argument I've always relied on was the fact that I could allow Haredi [ultra-Orthodox] men who enlist to maintain an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle and observe their faith. During recent months, the Personnel Directorate decided to reevaluate the rules. The most recent draft I read had omitted clauses that were intended to protect the beliefs of God fearing soldiers. Under the current circumstances, I can't be a part of the [Shahar] program as a rabbi or a consultant." Ravad's resignation letter was met with surprise within the IDF, especially in light of the fact that his retirement had been agreed to several months ago, long before the decision was made to require religious soldiers to attend military events. Sources surmised that the letter was a move aimed at securing a civilian rabbinical post. Senior military sources told Army Radio that "the rabbi was promised that the conditions of Haredim serving in the military would be examined before a final decision was reached. He decided to leave before that happened, which raises questions as to his motives." In response to Ravad's letter, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit issued a statement saying "the officer [Ravad] was slated to retire in the summer of 2012. Contrary to reports, he did not decide to end his military service, he only asked to step down from his post in the Shahar project within the Air Force." Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin commented on the matter saying that "just as it is impossible to force a Muslim to eat impure meat, we can't force a Jew to do the same. We can't force a person to do something contrary to their belief system." Meanwhile, former IDF Chief Rabbi Brig.-Gen. (res.) Israel Weiss told Army Radio that he is certain the rabbi misunderstood the decision of the General Staff Forum when he sent the letter. "The IDF did say what it did, but it also said there is room for each commander to use their own judgement. There is no doubt that women's singing would not be forced upon Haredi soldiers," Weiss said. "I think that if there was an official ceremony exclusively for Haredi soldiers, they should be allowed not to participate. With good judgement, commanders would use male singers from the start, for instance in a ceremony for the Haredi Nahal Brigade. The IDF knows how to act justly with Shahar soldiers."
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