How many of us know of the spiritual challenges that come with serving in TZAHAL? There are many ordeals that observant young men and women encounter while serving in the Israeli army. Our son Yakov is an observant young man who drafted as a combat soldier for the Nachal Brigade battalion 50 of whom the majority are non-observant from the Shomer Hatzair Kibbutz movement. While we were supportive of Yakov and his service, I knew there were religious challenges yet to come; and so from the very first day of his service I would send him a dvar Torah message on his whats app every single day. I chose different divrei Torah from varied sources with the intention of finding something from that weeks parsha which related to his serving in the Israeli army as an observant soldier. These divrei Torah were a means of remaining connected with my son and although we were physically apart, the Torah would keep us together. What evolved were conversations and exchanges between us that were meaningful and insightful. This book will give people an inside glimpse of the Israeli army from a religious point of view. Parents from abroad will appreciate what Israeli parents go through as they deliver their children, to the army, burdening them with the awesome and overbearing responsibility of preserving the Jewish world. The reader will appreciate these outstanding individuals, chayalei Tzahal, who approach their service with fervor, sincerity and unnerved devotion. The book is arranged in format of the weekly Parsha and also contains some discourses which convey the ideals of Zionism , religiosity, Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael as they relate to Tzahal.
Rabbi Shalom Hammer lives in Israel 30 years with his wife Gabi, their seven children and two granddaughters. He served under the Rabbinate Division of the Israeli Defense Forces and currently serves as a senior lecturer for Mahane Meshutaf and the Jewish Identity branch of Tzahal which motivates troops in all divisions and teaches soldiers about Jewish identity and Jewish heritage. In addition Shalom is the founder of Makom Meshutaf, an organization which promotes a new Judaism based on tolerance and unity between all denominations in Israel. Makom Meshutaf offers Jewish programming for secular Kibbutzim and Moshavim throughout Israel. Rabbi Hammer is also a contributing writer for the Jerusalem Post and is a sought after lecturer for communities throughout the Diaspora. He has authored four previous books including The Family Parsha Book, The Family Rashi Book, The Eybeshitz Haggadah: Experiencing Redemption, and Derash Yehonatan.
