Hasmonean Brigade

Hasmonean Brigade
חטיבת חשמונאים
Active2024 - Present
CountryIsrael
BranchIsraeli Ground Forces
RoleHaredi infantry brigade
Size4,000
Commanders
Current
commander
Colonel Avinoam Emunah

The Hasmonean Brigade (Hebrew: חטיבת החשמונאים) is planned to be an infantry unit in the Israeli Defense Forces intended to accommodate Haredi soldiers, who were previously exempt from conscription in Israel. The brigade is currently being arranged and commanded by Colonel Avinoam Emunah and will potentially have up to 4,000 soldiers.[1][2][3][4]

The Israeli Ministry of Defense says the unit is intended for single or married soldiers who wish to maintain their Haredi lifestyle and combine their religious studies with military service.

Recruits will undergo 8 months of training to join the brigade, which includes rifleman, stealth, open terrain warfare, and night operations training.[5]

  1. ^ "IDF launches first ultra-Orthodox combat brigade". www.israelhayom.com. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  2. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (4 November 2024). "IDF chief updated on establishment of new brigade for ultra-Orthodox soldiers". The Times of Israel.
  3. ^ "חטיבת חשמונאים". M-O-D (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  4. ^ זיתון, יואב; אלבז-אלוש, קורין (2024-11-04). "צה"ל: הלוי עודכן בסטטוס הקמת חטיבת חרדים, שתקלוט עד כ-4,000 חיילים". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-09.
  5. ^ "חטיבת חשמונאים". M-O-D (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-11-09.