The last time Rabbi Yigal Levinstein of Yeshivat Bnei David spoke out against toeiva in the IDF him came under fire, including shouts to cut funding to the mechina and shut it down. The rabbi was quick to apologize by issuing a “clarification”.

The same thing occurred this week after Levinstein once again spoke out publicly, this time against men and women serving together in the military.

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was among the first to speak out against the veteran mechina, demanding an apology from Rabbi Levinstein for his remarks.

Rabbi Levinstein was interviewed on the Wednesday evening news on Channel 2 TV, refusing to retract the heart of what he said but he did issue an apology for the manner in which he delivered his words and offending some. However, he remains opposed to men and women serving together.

The Srugim website writes on Thursday 11 Adar that Lieberman did not spare words in his criticism of the co-head of Bnei David, Rabbi Levinstein, adding when he returns home to Israel from Washington, he is going to reevaluate Rabbi Levinstein and his fitness to prepare young men to serve in the IDF.

It may be that Rabbi Levinstein, who is not naïve, simply feels the need to speak out to send a clear message to his talmidim in the IDF and those serving in the reserves, to make it clear the mixed unit is a red line that mustn’t be crossed by anyone.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)