He left Yeshiva to join combat - now wounded, this Haredi soldier has no regrets 

Haredi soldier Haim Treitel, a member of the IDF’s Givati Brigade who was wounded during operations in Gaza, shared yesterday evening (Tuesday) his thoughts on the dramatic choice he made to give up his exemption as a yeshiva student and enlist in the army.

“I remembered today the moment I arrived at the recruitment office in Tel Hashomer to give up my yeshiva status,” Treitel recalled. “The soldier there looked at me and asked, ‘Are you sure you want to lower your status as a yeshiva student? Do you understand the consequences of this?’”

“Now, two years later,” he continued, “I can say wholeheartedly—I don’t regret it for a moment.”

Treitel was wounded in the leg during operational activity in Gaza but recovered and returned to active service. In recognition of his commitment and capabilities, he was recently appointed as assistant to Lt. Col. Avigdor Dickstein, the head of the IDF’s Haredi Recruitment and Integration Branch within the Manpower Division.

Last week, An IDF representative speaking to the Knesst said that it sent out 10,000 draft notices to draft-eligible Haredi men - but just 205 enlisted in the army.

Lieutenant Colonel Avigdor Dickstein, Head of the Haredi Department, presented updated data regarding the recruitment of Haredim, according to which 1,721 have enlisted since the beginning of the recruitment year.