Rabbi Yigal Levinstein
Rabbi Levinstein taking a back seat at yeshiva
Controversial Rabbi Yigal Levinstein announces that he is taking a 'break for the purpose of studies,' minimizing his public involvement with the Bnei David preparatory yeshiva in an apparent attempt to appease Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
After making derogatory comments that drew strong criticism and even landed him in hot water with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Rabbi Yigal Levinstein is taking a back seat and decreasing his activities at the preparatory yeshiva Bnei David in Eli.
Levinstein, who drew fire for his comments on the LGBT community, women's place in society and enlistment to the IDF, has announced on Wednesday that he is taking a break to study.
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein
Bnei David claims that Levinstein decided to do so regardless of the controversy around him, emphasizing that he "will keep teaching and heading the Bnei David preparatory yeshiva."
The preparatory yeshiva's management made sure to update the Defense Ministry of Levinstein's decision, hoping it would placate Lieberman, who threatened to remove Bnei David from the ministry's list of recognized military preparatory yeshivas unless Levinstein ceases all activities as a rabbi and educator.
In a short message posted Wednesday by Levinstein, the rabbi wrote, "Dear students, since I have taken a break to study, I request that you do not contact me during my studies. Thank you."
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Photo: Defense Ministry)
In actuality, Levinstein will keep studying and teaching the Torah, and will do so where he always did—at the Bnei David preparatory yeshiva.
The only noticeable difference is that, with the break for his studies, Levinstein will no longer give the military preparation speeches and his regular Torah lessons and will stop making comments on public affairs—at least for the next few months.
According to the official announcement, the break is set to last for four months—until the start of next year's school year, though people close to the rabbi say that it is possible that it will be extended beyond that time.
(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
