A letter from Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the Eli pre-military academy, telling his students not to enlist in IDF units where women serve, including Sayeret Matkal, triggered a political storm on Tuesday. The letter, revealed Monday night by ynet, warned students not to rely on promises made during training about being placed in separate teams, because he said that after the course ends fighters are assigned to mixed operational formations with female soldiers. In his view, that constant mixed service has no halachic permit.
Levinstein also argued that even operational necessity cannot justify such service religiously. He urged religious young people to do meaningful IDF service, but only in units that, according to him, preserve their religious lifestyle and outlook.
Opposition figures sharply condemned him. Former IDF Personnel Directorate chief and MK Elazar Stern said,
