Gad Navon (1922 – 25 June 2006) was the third Chief MilitaryRabbi of theIsrael Defense Forces.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Mimun Fahima (later Gad Navon) was born inMorocco. He wasordained there as Rabbi after completing the study of the entireTalmud. He participated in theillegal immigration of Jews toPalestine in defiance of the British colonial government and was sent toFrance on behalf of theZionist movement. He immigrated toIsrael in 1948, served as a fighter of theNegev Brigade of thePalmach[7] and was appointedchaplain in the brigade.
In 1950, he was appointed chaplain of theSouthern Command and afterward of theNorthern Command. In 1965, he served as a member of amilitary tribunal headed by RabbiShlomo Goren. During theSix-Day War, he was the chaplain of the Northern Command, holding the rank oflieutenant colonel. In June 1971, with the retirement of Major-General Rabbi Shlomo Goren, he was appointed deputy to Chief Military RabbiMordechai Peron and promoted tobrigadier general.[1]
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 publishedHalachic 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 theFreemasons.He died at age 84[1] and was buried in theMount Herzl military cemetery.[8]
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