Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Yisrael Aumann sent a letter of support to Rabbi Elimelech Firer of Ezra Lemarpeh in response to the storm surrounding a planned event to benefit the organization. Prof. Aumann expressed his support for Rabbi Firer, who asked that performers at the event do not include females, which led to an outcry among many secularists. Aumann decried what he calls “secular coercion”.

The event was canceled as Rav Firer is being accused of excluding women despite the fact that so many performers and others came to his defense, citing his decades of assistance to all who seek it, without consideration for their lifestyle.

In his letter, Prof. Aumann writes of his shock after hearing of the “extreme intolerance” and the breaking of an agreement “by those who preach openness and tolerance”.

Aumann attacked those who oppose the event with male singers only. “It appears that they demand this of others, but they do not see the necessity to fulfil it themselves and in the past, they spoke of supposed ‘religious coercion’ and we have reached real secular coercion.”

Aumann stated, “Rav Firer, I stand at your side and would be pleased to assist you in any way I can…”

The video shows an interview Rav Firer gave to KAN11 News from 2018, in which he explains what he does and how he tries to assist many seeking his medical advice and direction. The event marks Rav Firer’s 40th anniversary of assisting Klall Yisrael with his ongoing efforts.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)