Rabbi Yoel Schwartz

The purpose of the Nahal Haredi, which is known as the 97th Battalion of Netzah Yehudah and was established in 1999 in cooperation with the IDF and the Ministry of Defense, is to enable the recruitment of young Orthodox men who do not attend yeshiva into combat service within the IDF under conditions that will allow them to maintain and uphold their unique lifestyle. This special framework includes a daily schedule with time allotted for prayers, lessons taught by rabbis, food certified kosher in the strictest degree, and more.

The training for the Nahal Haredi resembles that of any other infantry unit. The Battalion has one active company and three veteran companies, named "Palchod", "Mesaya'at" and "Mivtza'it" which was established in October 2009. Recruits to this Netzah Yehudah Battalion enter into combat service, as fighters in the IDF.

The Battalion currently has charge of the Jenin area. The Battalion has experienced many successes, and has led to the perception of quite a few suspects and the prevention of terrorist activity in the region. In 2006, the Battalion lost its first soldier killed during operational activity, Sgt. (dec.) Roy Farjoun.

In 2007, an honor guard from the Battalion was selected to represent the entire IDF at the main Memorial Day ceremony in Jerusalem. Recently, the first reserve Battalion of the Nahal Haredi was established.

The rabbis who work with the Nahal Haredi, led by Rabbi Schwartz, have in the past faced difficulties in their society, and continue to do so in the present. Part of Rabbi Schwartz's job involves convince the parents and the recruits alike that service in the IDF can fit well with their religious lifestyle.

Rabbi Schwartz, who has been involved in education for forty years, is the spiritual authority of the program. He works very closely with Brig. Gen. (res.) Yehuda Duvdevani, who serves as head of the Security-Society Branch. Rabbi Schwartz sees his work as a mission to create a framework for those who are unable to learn, but who are able to serve in the IDF without losing their values, and he works thus in order that the people of Israel will become more united and unified.