Captain Ofra Guttman has been appointed as the first-ever female officer in the Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) Rabbinate Corps. The appointment follows pressure from NIF grantee Kolech – Religious Women’s Forum and other Orthodox Feminist groups.

Captain Guttman said, “This new position has been created because very few of the tens of thousands of women serving in the IDF seek counsel from the Rabbinate Corps in comparison to their male counterparts. There are many subjects for which it is very difficult for young women to talk to a rabbi and which it is much easier for them to speak about with another woman.”

Captain Guttman will respond to questions relating to Judaism and the personal lives of women serving in the IDF.

Kolech Executive Director Chana Pasternak welcomed the appointment. "Jewish women serving in the army finally have somebody they can turn to on religious and spiritual matters," she said.

Captain Guttman, 28, returns to the military after a five-year break in which she studied social work at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and was employed as a social worker. 

In addition to personally addressing the individual inquiries of female soldiers, Captain Guttman will arrange seminars and courses to train a cadre of young women serving in the IDF to act as advisors for Jewish and spiritual matters in the various units of the Israeli military.