Chairman of the advisory committee of the Netzach Yehuda Association philanthropist David Hager received the 2023 volunteer award from Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday evening for his work in integrating the haredi community into the IDF and Israeli society.
After receiving the President’s award of volunteering this month, Hager received the badge from President Herzog in a moving ceremony held at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
Hager received the award for his important work in promoting haredi communities and their integration into the IDF and Israeli society. President Herzog told Hager, his family, and his close friends who came to the ceremony, “David Hager dedicates his time, funds, and energy for the haredi soldiers and the system of integrating haredi society into the IDF and the Israeli society. Thousands of haredi soldiers who are in the army and in society today owe their great success in all areas of life to him.”
Hagar, 64 years old, was born and raised in Jerusalem and over two decades ago was one of the pioneers of the integration of the haredi community in the IDF, one of the founders of the Nachal Haredi, and from then until today he has devoted many years to the building and promotion of the Netzach Yehuda Association, which accompanies the haredi courses in the IDF and later works to integrate the graduates into general society. The community of service graduates from the haredi sector, which currently numbers 16,000 people, integrate into Israeli society, in employment, in the economy, and in all areas of life.

The big surprise at the ceremony was the participation of current and former senior IDF officers, philanthropist Mrs. Miriam Adelson, Maj. Gen. Moti Almoz, and other well-known dignitaries, who came to honor Mr. David Hager for his many years of service.
After receiving the badge, Hager said: “I thank President Herzog for the recognition and for his work and for the long-standing partnership in the activity for the haredi soldiers and the integration of the haredi community in the IDF.”
“For over two decades now I have gotten up every morning knowing that I have a responsibility towards those haredi men who chose to enlist and combine Torah, the army, and work, and I wish myself to continue helping them integrate in all areas. In these days of polarization and the deepening of the Israeli internal rift, the haredi fighters and soldiers are a bridge and an example of a life of unity.”
Hager added, “This badge belongs first and foremost to the haredi soldiers and the thousands of graduates of Netzach Yehuda and the haredi battalions in Givati, Air Force paratroopers, and combat supporters, the brave people who chose to contribute and integrate into Israeli society.”