JERUSALEM — A photo of a Ger Hasidic rabbi serving as an Israeli combat soldier carrying a Torah scroll and military gear has gone viral on social media, with many online calling it a symbol of unity within Israeli society.

The image showed Capt. Yehuda Weitzman, 34, leaving home after Shabbat dressed in traditional Hasidic clothing while carrying a suitcase, combat vest and Torah scroll before returning to reserve military duty.

צאת חג מתן תורה בירושלים. נשק, ספר תורה וקרמי בדרך לעוד סבב מילואים בלבנון pic.twitter.com/f71bkY2PsC

— חיים גולדברג (@haim_goldberg) May 24, 2026

Weitzman, a father of three from Jerusalem, serves in the Israeli military’s Hasmonean Brigade, a framework aimed at integrating ultra-Orthodox soldiers into combat service. He said he enlisted for full military service in 2018 after years of studying in yeshivas and kollel programs.

“I felt I needed to be part of what I call ‘the Temple of our time,’” Weitzman told Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, referring to the military. “The Temple once brought all parts of the Jewish people together, and today the army does that.”

Following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, Weitzman said he was deployed near Gaza border communities and later assisted at a military base handling the dead. Though he previously served in rabbinic and professional military roles, he later chose to retrain as a combat soldier.

Weitzman also said he helped organize donations and support for soldiers from ultra-Orthodox communities, including operational equipment donated by anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidim in the United States.

He said Torah scrolls brought to combat areas often unite soldiers from different religious and political backgrounds.