IDF rabbinate clarifies: Operational readiness takes precedence over Tisha Be'av fast
Ahead of the Tisha Be’Av fast that starts on Wednesday evening, the IDF Military Rabbinate’s branch for religious law (halacha) clarified to the troops that maintaining operational readiness takes precedence over the religious obligation to fast.
This means that combat troops and combat support forces, particularly those serving in security zones in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza, must eat and drink as usual.
“Soldiers engaged in combat or operational security activity, as well as soldiers on standby who may be called into action immediately, are not to fast under any circumstances… This ruling also applies to combat support personnel (such as mechanics, UAV operators, and the like) whose duties require exertion in support of operational readiness.”
However, it noted that “a soldier who began eating due to an operational necessity, and for whom that necessity ceases during the day, should continue fasting for the remainder of the day.”
