Gad Navon

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Rabbi Gad Navon, sitting behind rabbis Shlomo Goren and Yehoshua Kaniel, 1964

Gad Navon (1922 – 25 June 2006) was the third Chief Military Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Biography

Mimun Fahima (later Gad Navon) was born in

Zionist movement. He immigrated to Israel in 1948, served as a fighter of the Negev Brigade of the Palmach[7] and was appointed chaplain
in the brigade.

Rabbinic and military career

In 1950, he was appointed chaplain of the

Gravesite of Rabbi Gad Navon, Mount Herzl

In February 1977, he was appointed the third Chief Military Rabbi and promoted to major general. During his tenure, there was a gradual transition of military chaplains from being religious officers, to being military rabbis. He also founded the military rabbinical course; and in addition to the standard sergeant chaplain present in every reserve battalion, he appointed a military rabbi at the battalion level.[1]

Rabbi Navon published

Halachic
papers on the issue of identification of fallen soldiers, and during his tenure, technological means of identification were given more credibility. He served as Chief Military Rabbi until May 2000.

He was a member of the Moriah Institute in the organization of the

Freemasons
. He died at age 84[1] and was buried in the Mount Herzl military cemetery.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Former Chief Military Rabbi Gad Navon dies". Ynetnews. June 25, 2006. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "Egypt returns bodies of 19 Israeli soldiers". Pittsburgh Post. July 20, 1977. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  3. ^ "IAF Hercules Brings Wounded, Dead Home; Egypt Arrests Suspect in Bus Attack that Killed 9 Israelis". Jerusalem Post. February 6, 1990. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  4. ^ LoLordo, Ann (June 27, 1998). "Lebanon, Israel swap war dead, prisoners; Negotiation was aided by French, Red Cross". The Sun. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  5. ^ HaLevi, Ezra (June 25, 2006). "Longest-Serving IDF Chief Rabbi Gad Navon Dies at 86". Israel National News. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  6. .
  7. ^ Jewish observer and Middle East review. July 16, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
  8. ^ According to the memoirs of Moshe Gabbay, Brith- the records keeper of Moroccan Jews