Israeli/US Army for our 19 year old Son

BS”D Our 19 year old son, Menachem Mendel grew up in Beit Shemesh, Israel. He attended CHABAD school until 8th grade. He attended Ohr Moshe High School from which he graduated last year as an “A” student. During the war with Hamas, he’s been earnestly desirous of enlisting in the IDF. However, because of his diagnosis the IDF rejected him, and in response. Since his heartfelt plan was stymied, he has decided to leave the country and go to the United States to enlist in the Navy Seals, which he believes because of his physical prowess and his bilingual abilities, he is capable of doing, in order to hopefully be sent to the Middle East to help protect Israel. His desire is to have a career in the military, but he wants to do that here in Israel and feels that the idea of regulations concerning rejection of people with autism is faulty which he wants to prove to the IDF by being successful in the US Navy SEALS. Is there some advice that you can please convey to him that this decision that he is making is not an appropriate one for a religious Jew to take. We don’t believe that he will be able to maintain his Yiddishkite in any way shape or form if he pursues this objective. He simply doesn’t understand the challenges to his Yiddishkite that this choice will make on his live and his Torah observance. We would be grateful for any advice or guidance that you could provide to him as we do not seem to be able to reach him on a level that he understands or is willing to consider. This is truly a life or death situation since the SEALS, if he makes it, could force him to give up his life in some foreign country for nothing having to do with protecting Israel! Thank you so much for your help.

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

I am sorry to hear of the challenges you have with your son.

The best would be to explain to your son that doing Mitzvot and studying Torah and his prayers, protects Israel more than a solder does.