Rabbi Levinstein renews call against Sayeret Matkal, says unit is mixed-gender without halachic sanction

Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the Eli pre-military academy, issued a fresh statement Monday evening urging candidates not to try out for Sayeret Matkal, asserting the unit has become mixed-gender and that claims of an operational-need halachic permit are invalid. The statement follows his earlier call earlier tonight and deepens an ongoing campaign by religious-Zionist educators against IDF gender integration in elite units.

Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the pre-military preparatory academy in Eli, renewed his call Monday evening against Sayeret Matkal, saying the elite unit has become mixed-gender and that claims of a halachic permit under the category of 'operational necessity' are baseless. The statement, posted to his the source at 22:43 Jerusalem, follows an earlier post by Levinstein tonight at 21:46 Jerusalem that The Zioneer covered as a bulletin.

Tonight's statement uses more direct language: 'Sayeret Matkal has become a mixed-gender unit! They will try to convince you that there is a permit called 'operational necessity' — but there is no such permit,' he wrote. The call is part of a broader campaign by religious-Zionist educators and hesder yeshiva heads this year urging recruits to avoid mixed-gender combat units over halachic objections.

Levinstein's warnings have drawn criticism from IDF officials but resonate with parts of the religious-Zionist community that prefer service in units like Shayetet 13 or Shaldag, which remain male-only. The issue remains unresolved as the IDF continues integrating women into combat roles, including Sayeret Matkal's operational tracks.

2 developments

1. 2 hours ago · 22:44 · 22 JunLatest

   Claims halachic permits for mixed-gender operational needs are invalid

2. 21:46 · 22 Jun

   Rabbi Yigal Levinstein warns candidates against Sayeret Matkal over gender integration

• Strong20:45 · 10 JunRabbi Yigal Levinstein Urges Candidates to Avoid Sayeret Matkal Over Gender Integration
• Strong20:59 · 15 JunPre-army seminary rabbis join hesder yeshiva heads in urging students to avoid mixed-gender units
• Developing6 days ago · 08:36 · 17 JunPre-army academy head says Armored Corps mixed pilot threatens religious soldiers
• Developing17:55 · 5 JunRabbi rules against joining military tour with female driver; commander threatens court-martial

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