The German Parliament has stamped the law to re-establish the official position of the military rabbi on Thursday in what was the first extension of the law on military pastoral care since 1957.
The military rabbis were part of the German armed forces during World War I, when around 100,000 Jewish soldiers fought for the country. They were banned shortly after Adolf Hitler took power in 1933, as part of an early Nazi effort to expel the Jews from public life.
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report by the military released in March said 49 military personnel were dismissed in 2019 because of extremism and anti-constitutional beliefs. The report said 46 dismissals were caused by right-wing extremism, two were classified as Islamism, and one soldier was identified as left-wing extremists.
According to the defense ministry, the role of the rabbis would reflect the role of Catholic and Protestant priests. They will provide pastoral care to the soldiers and accompany them on foreign missions.
The new military rabbis will work as temporary military contractors for six years, but their position may become permanent in the future, the ministry said. Similar initiatives to introduce military priests are being discussed.
The law will also form a special federal military rabbi in Berlin, which will oversee branches in Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Leipzig. Up to 10 rabbis will initially report to the federal head, the ministry said.
Germany does not officially record the religious affiliation of its soldiers. According to official estimates based on voluntary disclosure, around 300 Jewish soldiers and 3,000 Muslims are currently serving in the German military. There are 53,000 Protestants and 41,000 Roman Catholics, who together contribute about half of all service members.
