As the war with Iran comes to a close, the issue of Haredi enlistment is once again taking center stage in Israeli public and political discourse. Amid this renewed debate emerges a groundbreaking initiative aiming to shift perceptions: a support and wellness retreat for the wives of Haredi combat soldiers, launched by Los Angeles-based Jewish philanthropist David Hager.
While the Israeli coalition government works to pass a new military draft law that would secure its stability, current enlistment figures show only a modest increase in Haredi recruitment. Nonetheless, enlistment in combat units—particularly the relatively new Hashmonaim Brigade—has been on a gradual rise for the past 18 months. Beneath the surface, however, lie significant social and communal challenges, especially the lack of adequate support systems for the families of Haredi soldiers—an area where they lag behind other sectors of Israeli society.
David Hager, a longtime advocate and supporter of integrating Haredim into the IDF, has stepped in to bridge this gap. This coming weekend, he is sponsoring a special retreat in Europe for the wives of Haredi combat soldiers. The mission will include women from the Chabad community and from the new Hashmonaim Brigade. “It is our duty to care not only for the soldiers themselves, but also for their wives, mothers, and families,” says Hager. “When a family feels supported and valued, that’s the strongest encouragement a soldier can receive—and it gives confidence to others who are considering joining.”
The retreat, set to begin this weekend, will include emotional resilience workshops, wellness activities, community bonding sessions, and well-deserved respite from over a year of stress and uncertainty, while their husbands serve in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. The initiative is being organized in partnership with Chabad’s global Chamah Foundation and is intended as a pilot program, with plans to expand to more Haredi women’s groups in the near future. Hager’s message is clear: families are the heart of this movement—and they are the key to reshaping the narrative of Haredi military service. “The more our communities realize that these soldiers are not abandoned, but rather embraced and uplifted, the more we’ll see enlistment grow,” he concludes.