The Battalion of Bnei Brak

It’s unusual to see Israeli soldiers walking the streets of Bnei Brak. The chareidi stronghold sees very few of its youth serve in the armed forces.

But then Bnei Brak was hit hard by the coronavirus, with one of every 86 residents infected according to the latest figures. Two weeks ago, the Israeli government decided to close off the city entirely to staunch the spread of the infection and protect its residents. That’s when the army came marching in.

A battalion from the Commando Brigade and a battalion from the Paratrooper Brigade, part of the 98th Division, helped to map out the location of sick patients and distribute food. These were soldiers who were recruited less than six months ago had only completed basic training. In fact, the soldiers’ advanced parachuting training was interrupted to serve in Bnei Brak.

The IDF operated with restraint and respect toward residents, according to multiple sources. Outside the city, the IDF established a giant logistical center, and the army delivered aid wearing the orange vests of the Home Front Command over their uniforms. In accordance with lists they received from the municipality, they went from house to house, delivering mehadrin kosher food near the entrances. The soldiers were explicitly ordered not to enter any homes out of fear of infection.