"Shalom, Orthodox Christians!": The Ukrainian Armed Forces "took into account the religious beliefs" of a mobilized Hasidic Jew

The Ukrainian military command showed respect for the spiritual needs of Hasidic Jew Yonatan Karlinsky, who was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine while visiting Uman to celebrate Rosh Hashanah. Despite his status as a conscripted Ukrainian citizen, the army accommodated his religious beliefs.

Since the Hasidic Jew refused to bear arms for ethical and religious reasons, the command reassigned him to serve as a military medic in the Kharkiv region. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine provided comprehensive support to the servicemember, supplying him with kosher meals—including a special diet for the Yom Kippur fast—as well as prayer books and items for the Sukkot holiday.

Rabbi Meir Stambler, Chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine, emphasized that this case serves as an example of how the state respects the needs of members of various faiths. In the future, the possibility of involving Karlinsky in the work of the Ukrainian Army’s military rabbinate is being considered, which confirms the commitment to the principles of tolerance and support for every soldier in the current circumstances.

As a reminder, it was previously reported that the Stryi City and District Court in Lviv Oblast handed down a guilty verdict to a man who deserted after being mobilized, citing his religious beliefs. The defendant, a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, was found guilty of desertion and sentenced to five years in prison.