Jerusalem, 30 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) — Hundreds of young Haredi men reported to the IDF’s main induction base near Ramat Gan on Sunday, marking the busiest day yet in an enlistment wave expected to continue for another two weeks. Most are joining combat units.
The IDF’s formal annual target for ultra-Orthodox recruits is 4,800 to 5,760 soldiers per cycle. Data indicate that 4,000 Haredi soldiers enlisted between mid-2025 and mid-2026, a sharp rise from pre-war averages of about 1,700–1,800 per year.
The recruits are entering programs designed to allow them to serve while maintaining a Haredi lifestyle, including the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, Hashmonaim Brigade, Paratroopers’ Hetz Company, and the Air Force’s Negev unit.
For many, the decision was personal. Itamar Reinhold, joining Netzah Yehuda, said his brother’s service in Gaza inspired him to enlist. Shmuel Cohen said he wanted “to give something back to this country.” Another recruit, joining Hashmonaim, said, “Right now this is what you do. Haredi or not, everyone has to pull their weight.”
Parents who came to see their sons off said they supported their decision.