Channel 2 News reported that Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, one of the heads of Yeshivat Bnei David in Yishuv Eli, is taking an educational leave of absence in light of recent events and the machlokes with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. The senior cabinet minister was demanding the ousting of Levinstein or face the consequences.

Channel 2 is reporting that talmidim in the pre-IDF mechina who turn to Rav Levinstein are redirected to other rabbonim as he informs them he is on leave.

Levinstein came under fire for his remarks during an address, in which he spoke out against mixed-gender units, toeiva lifestyle and the fact that nothing supersedes halacha, not even the IDF. It is pointed out that Rabbi Levinstein served in the IDF for many years and rose to the rank of brigadier-general in the reserves in the Tank Corps. He is credited with being the force behind the new spirit in the IDF, the highly-motivate mechina graduates who are the backbone of the most elite fighting units in the IDF today.

Levinstein apologized and issued a clarification, and received the total backing of the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Eli Sadan, who stood firmly at Levinstein’s side against Lieberman.

Despite the reports aired by Channel 2, dati leumi websites report that in Eli, Yeshivat Bnei David is operating as usual, which includes Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, who is second in command under Rabbi Sadan.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)