According to Kipa, a proud grandfather of a female soldier int eh IDF has appealed to have the text of the prayer for the welfare of the soldiers changed to explicitly include female soldiers as well.
Yuval Peleg appealed to the IDF Rabbinate saying that just as we daven for female soldiers who died in battle, we should not wait until after death to daven for them but should equally daven for their welfare when serving int he army before battle.
Peleg wants the text to says "לחיילי ×•×—×™×™×œ×•×Ş ׌ה"ל" just as in the yizkor memorial prayer it says "sons and daughters.
The IDF responded saying it is not up to them and the prayer is said in civilian synagogues, so the appeal should be presented to the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. Peleg did so and Rabbi Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel, said he has submitted it to the Rabbanut council for debate and discussion of the matter.
I get his point comparing it to yizkor, but davening for "the soldiers of the IDF" includes all the soldiers, male and female, so it seems unnecessary, but I also see nothing wrong with it. If it makes people feel better, I see no reason not to make the change. The only issue I can possibly foresee is the Rabbanut not wanting to be seen as encouraging women to serve, by changing the text. The reality though is that many do serve, whether the Rabbanut wants them to or not, so we should daven for them and their safety.
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
