22 nov 2016
Those close to Col. Eyal Karim say that, as he prepares his ordered explanatory affidavit for the High Court of Justice regarding his controversial statements, he will say some were misattributed and stand by others.
After the High Court of Justice (HCJ) issued a temporary injunction delaying the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim as the IDF chief rabbi, those surrounding the controversial figure are already putting together his response to the court, which he is expected to file within the next two days. It seems that he has no intention of renouncing his previous statements.
Supreme Court President Miriam Naor and Justices Salim Jubran and Neal Hendel were the panel that ordered Karim to submit clarify his past comments and current position. Karim came under public fire when his past religious rulings permitted raping women in wartime, opposing female conscription, called gay people "sick or deformed," and ruled that soldiers must at times disobey military orders that conflict with Jewish law.
The changeover ceremony for the chief rabbi was scheduled for Wednesday, but it was later confirmed that it would be postponed by the IDF.
According to those close to Karim, the colonel's affidavit will specify that part of the statements attributed to him were done so incorrectly, his not having said or written some. Those that he did write, he is to submit, are legitimate rabbinical interpretation of Jewish law, so long as they do not influence his performance in his assigned role with the public he serves.
Practically, the response that Karim is expected to file with the HCJ will be a sort of legal version of that which he already said to Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in the clarification meeting that the two had after the rabbi's comments received public attention.
Karim is convinced that the HCJ will accept his clarifications, as did the chief of staff, but the military and state rabbinates are also preparing for what would be a pessimistic scenario for them. Rabbis from different departments—those who are associated with Karim's controversial stances and those who are not, both inside and outside the IDF—are already preparing a joint declaration that none of them would accept the position of IDF chief rabbi if Karim's appointment is cancelled, due to what they consider a violation of the Torah and the rabbinate's academic freedom.
After the High Court of Justice (HCJ) issued a temporary injunction delaying the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim as the IDF chief rabbi, those surrounding the controversial figure are already putting together his response to the court, which he is expected to file within the next two days. It seems that he has no intention of renouncing his previous statements.
Supreme Court President Miriam Naor and Justices Salim Jubran and Neal Hendel were the panel that ordered Karim to submit clarify his past comments and current position. Karim came under public fire when his past religious rulings permitted raping women in wartime, opposing female conscription, called gay people "sick or deformed," and ruled that soldiers must at times disobey military orders that conflict with Jewish law.
The changeover ceremony for the chief rabbi was scheduled for Wednesday, but it was later confirmed that it would be postponed by the IDF.
According to those close to Karim, the colonel's affidavit will specify that part of the statements attributed to him were done so incorrectly, his not having said or written some. Those that he did write, he is to submit, are legitimate rabbinical interpretation of Jewish law, so long as they do not influence his performance in his assigned role with the public he serves.
Practically, the response that Karim is expected to file with the HCJ will be a sort of legal version of that which he already said to Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot in the clarification meeting that the two had after the rabbi's comments received public attention.
Karim is convinced that the HCJ will accept his clarifications, as did the chief of staff, but the military and state rabbinates are also preparing for what would be a pessimistic scenario for them. Rabbis from different departments—those who are associated with Karim's controversial stances and those who are not, both inside and outside the IDF—are already preparing a joint declaration that none of them would accept the position of IDF chief rabbi if Karim's appointment is cancelled, due to what they consider a violation of the Torah and the rabbinate's academic freedom.
Courts accept a plea bargain presented by Berland’s defense team which saw one of the leaders of the Breslov Hasidic community sentenced for sexual assault; Berland: ‘I sincerely regret, from the bottom of my heart, all that I have done to harm a man or a woman.’
Rabbi Eliezer Berland, a leader of the Breslov Hasidic community, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a number of sexual assaults on Tuesday afternoon following a plea bargain reached between the courts and his defense team.
Moments before the Jerusalem Magistrates Court approved the plea bargain, Berland expressed his regret for his actions and requested forgiveness from his victims.
In doing so, he quoted from the week’s Torah portion ‘Vayesehv’ from the book of Genesis in reference to the Yehudah’s sexual transgressions against Tamar: “What I have admitted I have admitted and I have no further business with women,” He said. “I ask for forgiveness from the entire people of Israel.”
He went on to say that nothing could detract from the severity of his actions. “I sincerely regret, from the bottom of my heart, all that I have done to harm a man or a woman, I regret every harmful act that was caused by me, whether directly or indirectly. My regret is sincere,” Berland said.
The women who filed complaints against Berland opposed the plea bargain reached by the courts and his lawyers and called on the justice system to disregard the plea and to impose a stricter sentence.
79-year-old Berland had founded the Shuvu Banim Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is considered a leading figure among the Breslov Hasidic community. In 2012, one of his followers claimed to have seen him in a compromising position with a girl from the local community.
The man was beaten by his other followers, which brought the incident to the police's attention. The ensuing investigation gathered testimonies from several women, accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Berland had fled from Israel to Morocco in 2013, after being requested to make himself available for police questioning on suspicion of sexual misconduct. King Mohammed VI expelled Berland from Morocco, and from there he travelled to Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, and South Africa.
He landed in Israel in July after being extradited by the South African authorities. Upon exiting the plane, he was arrested by Israel Police officers who were awaiting his arrival and who took him for investigation.
Rabbi Eliezer Berland, a leader of the Breslov Hasidic community, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for a number of sexual assaults on Tuesday afternoon following a plea bargain reached between the courts and his defense team.
Moments before the Jerusalem Magistrates Court approved the plea bargain, Berland expressed his regret for his actions and requested forgiveness from his victims.
In doing so, he quoted from the week’s Torah portion ‘Vayesehv’ from the book of Genesis in reference to the Yehudah’s sexual transgressions against Tamar: “What I have admitted I have admitted and I have no further business with women,” He said. “I ask for forgiveness from the entire people of Israel.”
He went on to say that nothing could detract from the severity of his actions. “I sincerely regret, from the bottom of my heart, all that I have done to harm a man or a woman, I regret every harmful act that was caused by me, whether directly or indirectly. My regret is sincere,” Berland said.
The women who filed complaints against Berland opposed the plea bargain reached by the courts and his lawyers and called on the justice system to disregard the plea and to impose a stricter sentence.
79-year-old Berland had founded the Shuvu Banim Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is considered a leading figure among the Breslov Hasidic community. In 2012, one of his followers claimed to have seen him in a compromising position with a girl from the local community.
The man was beaten by his other followers, which brought the incident to the police's attention. The ensuing investigation gathered testimonies from several women, accusing him of sexual misconduct.
Berland had fled from Israel to Morocco in 2013, after being requested to make himself available for police questioning on suspicion of sexual misconduct. King Mohammed VI expelled Berland from Morocco, and from there he travelled to Zimbabwe, the Netherlands, and South Africa.
He landed in Israel in July after being extradited by the South African authorities. Upon exiting the plane, he was arrested by Israel Police officers who were awaiting his arrival and who took him for investigation.
21 nov 2016
The decision to delay the appointment comes after numerous politicians and organizations spoke out against the inflammatory comments made by Karim; IDF later confirms the appointment ceremony to be delayed; Judge Neal Hendel: 'We want to hear what he has to say and what he really thinks. That is all we are asking at this time.'
The High Court of Justice issued a temporary injunction on Monday delaying the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim to the post of Chief Rabbi of the IDF following past remarks he made against homosexuals and women and permitting soldiers to refuse orders, requesting him to file a deposition clarifying his past comments and his current positions.
The ceremony inducting the IDF Chief Rabbi was scheduled for Wednesday but it was later confirmed that it would be postponed by the IDF.
During a hearing on a petition filed by the Meretz party against the appointment, Chief Judge Miriam Naor, said, "We want to hear what he has to say. What his position was then, what it is now and if he has changed his mind."
During the hearing, Naor raised "a hypothetical question—let's say an army rabbi can say it's okay to rape women during war, would the Chief of Staff still appoint him? Let's assume that the candidate wrote it and he doesn't deny it, he just says 'that's my opinion.' The question becomes the matter."
Judge Neal Hendel said Karim needs to decide where he stands. "We want to hear what he has to say and what he really thinks. That is all we are asking at this time," he said.
"The statements made are shocking to say the least," said Judge Salim Jubran during the hearing.
The IDF Spoksperson's Unit added that Karim will offer a prepared statement, explaining his inflammatory comments to the High Court, despite right-wing repesentatives who urged him not to do so.
Uri Keidar, representing Meretz, said, "The IDF chief rabbi provides religious services to those serving and the position is a symbol of morality and ethics, like the president of the state. You demand more from a person whose job it is to give people motivation and spiritual support. A person in that role should be more of an example to others."
When asked about his opinions concerning homosexuality, Karim commented in the past that gays and lesbians should be treated with love and support, but also referred to them as "sick or deformed," saying they "must be helped to escape their situation, with a lot of sensitivity and patience."
The rabbi gave a more shocking answer when asked if soldiers were permitted to rape women during war. Karim replied that, as part of maintaining fitness for the army and the soldiers' morale during fighting, it is permitted to "breach" the walls of modesty and "satisfy the evil inclination by lying with attractive Gentile women against their will, out of consideration for the difficulties faced by the soldiers and for overall success."
Officials at the IDF's Chief Rabbinate were surprised by the High Court's decision. "Rabbi Karim has finished his training with (current Chief Rabbi) Peretz, and is confident that just as the IDF chief was convinced by his stately positions, which match the IDF's values, so will the judges of the High Court, who will approve the appointment even before Wednesday," one official said.
The official went on to claim that "the remarks attributed to Rabbi Karim were distorted and taken out of context and the issue had already been resolved between Karim and the IDF chief."
A forum of former IDF rabbis also condemned the court, saying "This is a bad decision that will be remembered as disgraceful. There's no end to Meretz's abuse of any Jewish characteristic in the IDF. In a biased manner, they took the rabbi's words out of context and distorted them. It's very regretful that the High Court's judges are cooperating with these elements who seek to weaken the military rabbinate while also weakening the entire IDF."
Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) came out in Karim's support, saying "Dear Rabbi Karim, don't allow this attempt to silence you and don't go back on halachic rulings you believe in."
After Karim was announced as the intended new IDF chief rabbi, members of Knesset and women's rights organizations called for the decision to be revoked. The head of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Joint List), said, "Col. Karim's ruling on permitting raping non-Jewish women is similar to the fatwa of a murderous organization that's not so far from Israel's borders. I will contact the attorney general and oppose the appointment, and I call on female and male members of Knesset to join my request."
The High Court of Justice issued a temporary injunction on Monday delaying the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim to the post of Chief Rabbi of the IDF following past remarks he made against homosexuals and women and permitting soldiers to refuse orders, requesting him to file a deposition clarifying his past comments and his current positions.
The ceremony inducting the IDF Chief Rabbi was scheduled for Wednesday but it was later confirmed that it would be postponed by the IDF.
During a hearing on a petition filed by the Meretz party against the appointment, Chief Judge Miriam Naor, said, "We want to hear what he has to say. What his position was then, what it is now and if he has changed his mind."
During the hearing, Naor raised "a hypothetical question—let's say an army rabbi can say it's okay to rape women during war, would the Chief of Staff still appoint him? Let's assume that the candidate wrote it and he doesn't deny it, he just says 'that's my opinion.' The question becomes the matter."
Judge Neal Hendel said Karim needs to decide where he stands. "We want to hear what he has to say and what he really thinks. That is all we are asking at this time," he said.
"The statements made are shocking to say the least," said Judge Salim Jubran during the hearing.
The IDF Spoksperson's Unit added that Karim will offer a prepared statement, explaining his inflammatory comments to the High Court, despite right-wing repesentatives who urged him not to do so.
Uri Keidar, representing Meretz, said, "The IDF chief rabbi provides religious services to those serving and the position is a symbol of morality and ethics, like the president of the state. You demand more from a person whose job it is to give people motivation and spiritual support. A person in that role should be more of an example to others."
When asked about his opinions concerning homosexuality, Karim commented in the past that gays and lesbians should be treated with love and support, but also referred to them as "sick or deformed," saying they "must be helped to escape their situation, with a lot of sensitivity and patience."
The rabbi gave a more shocking answer when asked if soldiers were permitted to rape women during war. Karim replied that, as part of maintaining fitness for the army and the soldiers' morale during fighting, it is permitted to "breach" the walls of modesty and "satisfy the evil inclination by lying with attractive Gentile women against their will, out of consideration for the difficulties faced by the soldiers and for overall success."
Officials at the IDF's Chief Rabbinate were surprised by the High Court's decision. "Rabbi Karim has finished his training with (current Chief Rabbi) Peretz, and is confident that just as the IDF chief was convinced by his stately positions, which match the IDF's values, so will the judges of the High Court, who will approve the appointment even before Wednesday," one official said.
The official went on to claim that "the remarks attributed to Rabbi Karim were distorted and taken out of context and the issue had already been resolved between Karim and the IDF chief."
A forum of former IDF rabbis also condemned the court, saying "This is a bad decision that will be remembered as disgraceful. There's no end to Meretz's abuse of any Jewish characteristic in the IDF. In a biased manner, they took the rabbi's words out of context and distorted them. It's very regretful that the High Court's judges are cooperating with these elements who seek to weaken the military rabbinate while also weakening the entire IDF."
Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) came out in Karim's support, saying "Dear Rabbi Karim, don't allow this attempt to silence you and don't go back on halachic rulings you believe in."
After Karim was announced as the intended new IDF chief rabbi, members of Knesset and women's rights organizations called for the decision to be revoked. The head of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Joint List), said, "Col. Karim's ruling on permitting raping non-Jewish women is similar to the fatwa of a murderous organization that's not so far from Israel's borders. I will contact the attorney general and oppose the appointment, and I call on female and male members of Knesset to join my request."
12 oct 2016
Rabbi Rami Brachyahu
Rabbi Rami Brachyahu chosen as the top religious figure in the police despite problematic past statements: 'We instruct police officers how to not get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark.'
Much like the IDF's recently-appointed Chief Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim, the Israel Police's new chief rabbi Rami Brachyahu's past is mired by a series of controversial statements against the LGBT community and about women.
One such statement determines that while "We need to demonstrate warm and humane treatment towards homosexuals as private people and as individuals … we cannot allow having in our community couples whose lifestyle is not in line with the laws of nature."
He also signed a letter of support of religious-Zionist Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, who labeled LGBT persons as "perverts" in a controversial speech.
In a February 2015 interview given to the website Kippa, Rabbi Brachyahu was asked about the sex scandals that plagued the Israel Police in 2015.
"We give the police officers moral and ethical basis and instruct them how not to have heart-to-heart conversations and how not to get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark," he said in response. "It's true that this is complex and unhealthy, but it doesn't mean it's not possible."
Rabbi Brachyahu is also among the rabbis who are against female service in the IDF.
Brachyahu, the rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Talmon, was approved by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan after being chosen by Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh.
Alsheikh adopted the recommendation of an appointment committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Zohar Dvir, which was established in May
2016 and mandated to look for an "educational figure," with "proven halachic ruling ability" and "the ability to connect to the variety of officers serving in the Israel Police."
"I accept this role with fear and trepidation, while understanding the weight of the responsibility placed on me," Rabbi Brachyahu said on Monday, upon the approval of the appointment.
Rabbi Brachyahu heads the Beit Midrash project "Believing in the Police," which seeks to reconcile the work of police officers in the field with Jewish law (halacha). Among other things, the project encourages the recruitment of police officers from among the religious-Zionist sector and has so far brought dozens of young officers into the force.
As part of the project, officers who encountered halachic dilemmas during their service would turn to Rabbi Brachyahu. At the time, this was an undeveloped field in halachic rulings.
Among his rulings, Rabbi Brachyahu determined a police officer is allowed to desecrate the Shabbat while on duty, even in a situation that is not defined as "pikuach nefesh"— the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration—such as securing large-scale events on Saturday evening.
When asked about refusing an order when it comes to evacuating Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the rabbi said an effort must be made to be relieved of such an assignment by speaking to one's commanders rather than intransigently refusing an order.
He is also considered moderate when it comes to the halachic ban on women singing when men are present.
The Israel Police said in a statement on Monday that "We are confident that Rabbi Brachyahu will serve as a bridge to all the different sectors in the force and outside of it and will serve as a spiritual figure and moral compass to police officers everywhere."
The ultra-Orthodox public protested Rabbi Brachyahu's appointment, as he was chosen over their own candidate, Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who has been the acting police rabbi over the past few years. Rabbi Gafni's close associates claimed the religious-Zionist Alsheikh chose someone of his own sector and have threatened to petition the High Court of Justice against the appointment.
Meanwhile, the religious-Zionist Tzohar organization of rabbis welcomed the appointment, saying "Rabbi Brachyahu is a great Torah scholar, an important halachic ruler, who established the 'Believing in the Police' project where he has been dealing for years with public and individual affairs with sensitivity and great wisdom."
Rabbi Rami Brachyahu chosen as the top religious figure in the police despite problematic past statements: 'We instruct police officers how to not get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark.'
Much like the IDF's recently-appointed Chief Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim, the Israel Police's new chief rabbi Rami Brachyahu's past is mired by a series of controversial statements against the LGBT community and about women.
One such statement determines that while "We need to demonstrate warm and humane treatment towards homosexuals as private people and as individuals … we cannot allow having in our community couples whose lifestyle is not in line with the laws of nature."
He also signed a letter of support of religious-Zionist Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, who labeled LGBT persons as "perverts" in a controversial speech.
In a February 2015 interview given to the website Kippa, Rabbi Brachyahu was asked about the sex scandals that plagued the Israel Police in 2015.
"We give the police officers moral and ethical basis and instruct them how not to have heart-to-heart conversations and how not to get into a situation in which they are alone in a police cruiser with a female officer in the dark," he said in response. "It's true that this is complex and unhealthy, but it doesn't mean it's not possible."
Rabbi Brachyahu is also among the rabbis who are against female service in the IDF.
Brachyahu, the rabbi of the West Bank settlement of Talmon, was approved by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan after being chosen by Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh.
Alsheikh adopted the recommendation of an appointment committee headed by Deputy Commissioner Zohar Dvir, which was established in May
2016 and mandated to look for an "educational figure," with "proven halachic ruling ability" and "the ability to connect to the variety of officers serving in the Israel Police."
"I accept this role with fear and trepidation, while understanding the weight of the responsibility placed on me," Rabbi Brachyahu said on Monday, upon the approval of the appointment.
Rabbi Brachyahu heads the Beit Midrash project "Believing in the Police," which seeks to reconcile the work of police officers in the field with Jewish law (halacha). Among other things, the project encourages the recruitment of police officers from among the religious-Zionist sector and has so far brought dozens of young officers into the force.
As part of the project, officers who encountered halachic dilemmas during their service would turn to Rabbi Brachyahu. At the time, this was an undeveloped field in halachic rulings.
Among his rulings, Rabbi Brachyahu determined a police officer is allowed to desecrate the Shabbat while on duty, even in a situation that is not defined as "pikuach nefesh"— the principle in Jewish law that the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious consideration—such as securing large-scale events on Saturday evening.
When asked about refusing an order when it comes to evacuating Jewish settlements in the West Bank, the rabbi said an effort must be made to be relieved of such an assignment by speaking to one's commanders rather than intransigently refusing an order.
He is also considered moderate when it comes to the halachic ban on women singing when men are present.
The Israel Police said in a statement on Monday that "We are confident that Rabbi Brachyahu will serve as a bridge to all the different sectors in the force and outside of it and will serve as a spiritual figure and moral compass to police officers everywhere."
The ultra-Orthodox public protested Rabbi Brachyahu's appointment, as he was chosen over their own candidate, Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who has been the acting police rabbi over the past few years. Rabbi Gafni's close associates claimed the religious-Zionist Alsheikh chose someone of his own sector and have threatened to petition the High Court of Justice against the appointment.
Meanwhile, the religious-Zionist Tzohar organization of rabbis welcomed the appointment, saying "Rabbi Brachyahu is a great Torah scholar, an important halachic ruler, who established the 'Believing in the Police' project where he has been dealing for years with public and individual affairs with sensitivity and great wisdom."
