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Rabbi Yigal Levinstein Urges Religious Students to Avoid Sayeret Matkal
How 2 Israeli newsrooms covered this story — translated into English and compared side by side.
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First reported by Ynet · Jun 22, 2026
What happened
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the Bnei David academy in Eli, called on religious students not to enlist in Sayeret Matkal. He said the elite unit has become mixed with female fighters and argued there is no halakhic permission for such service.
- 01Levinstein urged yeshiva and preparatory-school students not to join Sayeret Matkal.
- 02He said the elite unit has become mixed, with women serving in combat roles.
- 03He warned that separate training would still lead to mixed combat assignments.
- 04Levinstein rejected claims that operational necessity permits fighting alongside women.
- 05He urged recruits to choose units that fit their religious beliefs.
Summary translated & synthesized from the sources below by baba. Read each original for the full report.
Full coverage · 2 outlets
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