Following a decision by the Israeli Chief Rabbinate last month to agree to recognize women as kosher supervisors, the Israeli Defense Forces has also agreed to open its doors to allow women supervisors in its own kitchens.

The issue has been a source of contention in Israel, following a lawsuit filed with the High Court of Justice by the Emunah Women’s Organization last summer, which argued that the chief rabbinate should recognize qualified women as mashgichot.

The chief rabbinate backed down early last month, agreeing to certify women.

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Brigadier-General Racheli Tevet-Wiesel, an advisor to the IDF Chief of Staff on women’s affairs, reportedly spearheaded the effort within the military, according to Yashiva World, noting that the military follows the lead of the Chief Rabbinate when it comes to religious issues.

The chief rabbi of the IDF spoke out against Emunah’s petition early on, rightly predicting that the decision would eventually force the military to also change its policies, but has not yet commented on the most recent IDF decision.

The move will likely further anger some among the orthodox community, already concerned about gender mixing in the military.

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