It is becoming increasingly clear that no one is doing more damage to Yiddishkheit in the IDF than its very own chief rabbi, Brigadier-General Rafi Peretz, who seems more concerned with finding favor in his boss’ eyes than adhering to Shulchan Aruch. Earlier this week, Peretz announced that military law supersedes Halacha and therefore, soldiers will remain present during a kol isha event.
The day after his chief air force rav announced he is stepping down, unable to continue in the IDF in its current anti-Halachic form, Peretz recommended to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz that he remove Ravaad from his post due to his unacceptable behavior, referring to Ravaad’s announcement and subsequent statements to the media.
Even Peretz’s predecessor, Rabbi Avichai Ronsky came out against Peretz this week for adopting his current philosophy.
Rabbonim such as Rabbi Elyakim Levanon Shlita, a leading figure in the dati leumi camp has recently stated that the military is pushing the yeshivos to the breaking point, and if left without any other alternative, he will instruct his talmidim no to enter the IDF since they are unable to continue a Torah life. This is a very powerful statement from a rav who views military service as part of one’s Avodas Hashem, but Rabbi Levanon made it clear, Halacha will always supersede military law.
Rabbi Levanon is joined by Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of Har Bracha and others.
Speaking to Israel Radio on Thursday morning, Defense Minister Ehud Barak stated he is pleased with the IDF’s decision, vowing there will be no discrimination against women in the military.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
9 Responses
End of game for the IDF. It is totally anti Dati. It could be dati and gain from those that serve but it wants to run it like in 48 and that was to destroy Yiddishkeit at all cost
Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
NEEDS to step down
It is wholly unbecoming to write of a rabbi that he “seems more concerned with finding favor in his boss’ eyes than adhering to Shulchan Aruch”. Hizaharu bikvodam shel tamidei chachamim.
The psika of Harav Peretz Shlit”a is hardly new. Religious soldiers have never been exempt from formal military ceremonies in which women sang, including in the days of Harav Ronski Shlit”a. The psika of all military rabbis and of the rashei yeshivot hesder has always been, until now, that kvod habriyot and achdut yisrael prevail and that a religious soldier should merely “avert his ears”. For those soldiers who do not trust in their ability to do so, earplugs (which are readily available on military bases and which most combat soldiers carry in their pockets)have been suggested.
It is also worth noting that the point is largely academic. The great majority of religious soldiers will complete their service without once being faced with a formal military ceremony with women singers.
@yagel libi This so called Rabbi is reported to have said that idf rules come before Halacha. He didn’t say that the halacha is that people should stay. If this was the case he is a complete Kofer heretic and is not considered a Jew in most cases. One of the thirteen princibles of faith is that the Torah will never be changed. You would even be hard pressed to call him a tinuk shenishba which would mean that even if he was drowning we don’t save him!
#3 Yagel Libi,
you write “Hizaharu bikvodam shel tamidei chachamim.
The psika of Harav Peretz Shlit”a is hardly new.”
How can you call Peretz a RAV?? Let alone give him a title of Shlita.
Anyone that CLEARLY goes against the TORAH viewpoint is obviously not considered a Rav!!
I am sure the Torah obligates the soldiers to leave these events, and not to put oneself in a nisyaon with the only thing to guard himself- earplugs??
I think it is laughable to consider earplugs sufficient protection for these young and vulnerable soldiers.
The fact that REAL Rabbonim have come out so strongly against him, proves my point.
Yagel libi, Peretz is not a talmid chacham. He is a rasha. Rav Ronsky is a great man, and did great things during his tenure to be mekadesh haShem barabim; that is precisely why the authorities replaced him with this rasha.
where is the fire back its not there
#5, you are guilty of kabablat lashon hara and bizui talmid chacham (as is the person who wrote this report, #6 and #7). This statement was an interpretation given by a disgreuntled chaplain who attended the meeting. Have you never heard of a disagreement among rabbanim?
No wonder why the Bet HaMikdash has not yet been built.