WATCH: How Ultra-Orthodox soldiers swear loyalty without saying ‘I Swear’— The IDF’s ingenious compromise 

In a striking departure from military tradition, dozens of soldiers from the Israeli Defense Forces’ first all-Haredi combat unit, the Hashmonaim Brigade, gathered yesterday (Thursday) at the Maccabees’ Tombs for their inaugural ceremony, opting for a “declaration” over the standard oath to honor their ultra-Orthodox beliefs. The event, held in the late afternoon glow near this historic site, saw the recruits—many of whom received their brigade insignia earlier this week—step into a role tailored to their religious lifestyle, a milestone for a community long at odds with mandatory conscription.

In a typical IDF swearing-in, recruits take an oath known as the “Shevuat Ha’aliyah” (Oath of Allegiance), where they “swear” (nishba) loyalty to the State of Israel, its laws, and its commanders, often concluding with a dramatic moment of receiving a rifle and a Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). The term “swear” carries a formal, binding connotation in Hebrew, often linked to invoking God’s name or a sacred covenant, as seen in biblical contexts like Genesis 24:3.

For many ultra-Orthodox Jews, however, this act of swearing an oath—especially in a secular military framework—raises halachic (Jewish legal) concerns. The Torah (e.g., Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20) instructs that oaths should only be taken in God’s name for sacred purposes, and the Talmud (e.g., Nedarim 8b) warns against frivolous oaths, which could profane the divine. Haredi rabbis often interpret this to mean that swearing an oath to a secular entity like the IDF risks violating these principles, a stance reinforced by historical Haredi resistance to conscription as a perceived threat to religious purity.

For the Hashmonaim Brigade’s ceremony, the IDF replaced the traditional oath with a “declaration” (hakhraza), where soldiers say “I promise” (ani matzhir) rather than “I swear” (ani nishba). This linguistic shift, while subtle, is significant. “Matzhir” implies a solemn commitment or pledge without the sacred weight of an oath, avoiding the halachic issue of invoking a divine vow in a non-religious context. The declaration still binds the soldiers to their duty—to defend Israel and obey lawful orders—but frames it as a personal undertaking rather than a metaphysical bond

The audience was divided by gender with a physical partition, and the air rang with male-sung religious melodies instead of martial band tunes, setting a distinctly devotional tone. Rabbi Moshe Korkus, the brigade’s spiritual leader, blessed the soldiers, invoking the Maccabees’ legacy: “Each one of you holds a sword and shield in one hand, while calling out with the other, ‘Who is for God, come to me.’”

The ceremony wove in rituals far from military norms—one officer led a “Siyum Masechet,” a prayer marking the completion of the Talmudic tractate “Megillah,” studied during the recruits’ scheduled Torah sessions. Before singing “Hatikvah,” Israel’s national anthem, the soldiers chanted “Mimkomcha Malkeinu Tofiah,” a Shabbat prayer, blending synagogue reverence with their new martial identity.

For some, the day was a solitary triumph, their families absent due to opposition to enlistment; others reveled in a moment they called unprecedented. Gideon Shushan, father of a brigade soldier from Beit Shemesh, beamed with pride: “We’re proud of our sons in yeshivas and those serving in the army.” Asked if this defied Haredi norms, he said, “It’s unusual in our community, but natural to our soul—there’s nothing more Jewish than fighting in a war with God’s help.”

Shushan noted widespread support in his town, from rabbis to neighbors, for both Torah study and military service, a sentiment echoing a shifting tide among some ultra-Orthodox circles. Mike, a relative of soldier Moshe, shared similar pride: “Despite the army’s critics, we’re thrilled he’s defending the homeland after completing the course.” Reflecting on whether he foresaw this path, Mike admitted, “Three years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed this—but it’s a good thing now.”

The Hashmonaim Brigade, launched amid debates over Haredi enlistment, aims to integrate ultra-Orthodox recruits into combat roles while preserving their religious observance, a balance visibly struck at Thursday’s event. Photographs captured the scene: rows of soldiers in uniform, a segregated crowd, and a backdrop of ancient tombs, underscoring a bridge between past valor and present duty.

Ynet contributed to this article.