Sitting around the table recently with my army unit in the IDF rabbinate, someone threw out a comment about the “Alpinistim Unit.” Hardly anybody knew what he was talking about, including myself, though with the word “alpine” in my vocabulary, I figured it out sooner than some of the Israelis. It turns out the IDF has a special forces unit specifically trained on the wintry conditions of Mount Hermon. As a native Coloradan and an avid skier myself, I was curious to learn more about this unit (and fantasize about being a part of it).
Nestled in the rugged mountains of Israel’s northern borders, the IDF’s Alpinist unit might seem an unlikely elite military force. After all, Israel is a land more famous for its deserts than its alpine peaks. But since the IDF’s takeover of the buffer zone on the Syrian side of Mount Hermon, there’s a lot more chatter about the Alpinist unit. Strangest of all is that while the Alpinist Unit was active for many months in Lebanon, it was not initially deployed on the Hermon. That task was designated to the elite special forces Shaldag unit, apparently because they have more advanced training.
Ironically, I’ve heard anecdotally that both units are bummed. The Alpinist unit is bummed because they’ve been training all these years for this moment, only to be released, and the Shaldag unit (or at least their wives) is bummed because they’ve been away from home for around 400 days (!!) since Oct. 7. So says a colleague of mine, mother to three kids, who is certainly pining for her husband’s return from his Shaldag unit currently stationed on the Syrian Hermon.
Finally, though, the Alpinist unit was deployed to the Syrian Hermon and just this past week they put up a mezuzah on the first permanent structure they erected in anticipation of an extended stay. And finally, my colleague’s husband returned home last Wednesday night.
For those who love mountain adventures, the Alpinist unit’s unique mission offers a fascinating glimpse into the art of combining mountaineering, winter survival and military strategy. The Alpinist unit was established to secure Israel’s northernmost frontier along the Golan Heights and the Hermon Mountain range, areas that experience heavy snowfall in winter. This specialized unit focuses on high altitude warfare, reconnaissance, and rapid response in extreme winter conditions. It’s a role that demands both physical resilience and technical expertise.
Mount Hermon’s elevation might not be a match for the Rocky Mountains, but its summit is higher than any peak in the United States east of the Rockies, forming a natural strategic barrier. And the difference between the Israeli side of the Hermon and the Syrian side? 7,300 feet vs. 9,230 feet. The strategic difference is self-evident, as manning the Hermon summit now places the IDF on the highest peak in the region. Snow covers its slopes for several months each year, making it a difficult area to monitor and defend. For Americans or Europeans accustomed to skiing and snowboarding at resorts in the Rockies or the Alps, the Hermon’s winter conditions might feel familiar — but imagine combining those slopes with military gear and a mission to defend our homeland.
Becoming an Alpinist is no small feat. It’s a reservist-only unit, meaning that veterans of elite infantry units — mostly Golani, which mans the northern front — enlist to undergo special training after being released from active duty. The unit’s training regimen rivals that of the most demanding mountain expeditions. Recruits undertake rigorous physical conditioning to build endurance and strength, essential for carrying heavy loads in deep snow and high altitudes.
All that being said, as a native Coloradan, I found it hilarious when I found out that many enlistees have zero experience skiing! Not to worry, they eventually learn advanced skiing techniques, snow navigation, and cold weather survival skills — competencies that could impress even the most seasoned backcountry skiers. Additionally, the unit practices emergency medical procedures tailored to mountain environments, ensuring they can handle frostbite, hypothermia and other cold-related injuries.
Unlike recreational skiers, Alpinists train to operate under combat conditions. They practice skiing with full tactical gear, including weapons and communication equipment. They also simulate missions where stealth and precision are critical, often rehearsing under the cover of night. Imagine skiing a double-black-diamond slope not for the thrill, but to reach a critical vantage point without being detected.
Beyond their elite combat duties in the unique mountainous terrain, I learned from my friend Aryeh Shapiro, a brigade liaison officer between the IDF and U.N. peacekeeping forces in Lebanon and Syria, that the Alpinistim also run the charitable Erez Foundation, which operates winter sport programs for veterans and children with physical disabilities. In addition to Mount Hermon, they’ve taken groups to the Alps and Himalayas for more extreme mountain experiences. These Israeli Alpine warriors are not just heroes – they are menschen as well.
The Alpinist unit is a testament to the IDF’s adaptability and innovation. Despite Israel’s small size and limited natural snow-covered regions, the unit has developed expertise that rivals other mountain warfare specialists worldwide. Unsurprisingly, though, it took a cold weather native to help things along. Maj. Stephan Koegus (res.), an immigrant from Sweden, transformed the unit upon his arrival in 1982. He was shocked to discover they didn’t use skis at all at the time, so he brought back his own from Sweden. Once his commanders understood the significant advantage the skis gave him, he had their ears on how to improve their equipment and tactics. Today, they have adapted their skis for rapid mobility across snowfields and refined winter camouflage techniques to blend seamlessly with their snowy surroundings.
Though separated by thousands of miles, the Alpinist unit and mountain enthusiasts across the globe share an invisible bond: a love for the cold, high places and a commitment to thriving in them. For skiers worldwide, the Rockies and the Alps offer recreation, inspiration and a deep connection to nature. For the Alpinists, the mountains are all that and more: a battleground and a sanctuary, a place where they defend their nation while forging unbreakable bonds with their comrades.
Chaim Goldberg has semicha from RIETS, a graduate degree in child clinical psychology from Hebrew University, and he enlisted in the IDF this summer through the Shlav Bet Haredi program. In civilian life, Rabbi Goldberg teaches Torah at various yeshivot/seminaries and practices psychology. On the side, he writes for Jewish publications across the globe and at chaimgoldberg.substack.com.
