How the IDF Is Bringing Passover Seders to Soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon

The IDF said Tuesday that it has completed preparations for Passover (Pesach), with thousands of soldiers set to hold Seder nights inside active combat zones in Gaza and southern Lebanon for a third consecutive year. The military said it distributed more than 106 tons of matzah, tens of thousands of Haggadot, and thousands of specially prepared field kits ahead of the holiday, which begins Wednesday night, as soldiers remain deployed deep inside enemy territory and away from their families.

At the center of the preparations are the “Seder Night for the Fighter” kits, compact, ration-style packages designed for operational conditions. According to the Military Rabbinate, the kits include matzah, grape juice with cups for the four cups, charoset, horseradish for maror, pickles for karpas, and two Haggadot, including a shortened version adapted for time constraints. The army said the kits are intended to allow soldiers to conduct a Seder properly without disrupting operational activity.

The IDF said tens of thousands of Haggadot were distributed, including thousands tailored for frontline use with a condensed format. Unit rabbis have been deployed to help lead Seders in combat zones and create a holiday atmosphere under operational conditions. “Everyone must have a Seder, down to the last soldier in every unit,” said Maj. Eliya Avitbul of the Military Rabbinate.

In practice, those Seders often take place around active missions. According to military rabbis, some units have had to split the Seder into separate groups because part of the force remained on duty, with one second Seder ending as late as 3 a.m. “Over the years... I’ve sometimes found myself conducting two Seders,” one rabbi said.

The preparations were initially focused on Gaza but expanded as fighting intensified in the north. “We prepared with an emphasis on Gaza, but we did not anticipate what would happen in the north and Operation Roaring Lion,” Avitbul said. He added that soldiers deployed “inside Lebanon” and “inside Gaza” are all receiving individual Seder packages. The Military Rabbinate also increased its supply of matzah, adding about three extra tons beyond its usual nine-ton distribution due to wartime demand.

Beyond the kits, the IDF said food and supplies are being delivered by land, air, and sea to reach combat units, including specialized packages such as “Boost in the Skies” for air force crews conducting extended missions. Where hot kosher-for-Passover meals cannot be provided, troops are supplied with dry rations, canned food, and matzah suited to field conditions.

This year’s preparations come after widespread criticism during Passover 2025, when families of soldiers reported significant shortages reaching combat units in Gaza. A parents’ group warned at the time of “a real shortage of food in combat units, to the point of hunger,” raising concerns about the military’s ability to supply troops during the holiday. In response, the IDF said it adjusted its planning for this year. “We learned lessons and improved,” the military said.