As Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman has banned Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef and other rabbonim from IDF bases and participation in military events, dozens of soldiers arrived to daven shachris with Rav Yosef on Monday morning, 6 Shevat.

Lieberman announced the ban against Rav Yosef as well as Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu and Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen Aviner, after they spoke out against new IDF policy of mixed-gender units. They ruled halacha prohibits one from serving in or commanding such units. This and other statements elicited the ire of the senior minister, who banned the three from the IDF.

It was a moving scene as the uniformed soldiers arrived at the Rishon L’Tzion’s beis medrash to daven with him in a showing of support. It is a clear sign that despite Lieberman’s announced ban, religious and chareidi soldiers are not on board and for them, the Chief Rabbi is not banned, and they feel the need to show this to him and the nation by their actions.

In addition to Lieberman’s ban, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott later announced he is prohibiting IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Eyal Karim from meeting with Rav Yosef as the two were scheduled to do on Monday.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)