Rabbi Eyal Karim
Rabbi Eyal KarimNo credit

IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot invited the new Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Eyal Karim, to an urgent meeting today in order to explain the intense opposition of the Left to his appointment.

Since Rabbi Karim was appointed to the position, he has faced opposition from both leftist MKs and from journalists demanding a cancellation of his appointment in response to statements the Rabbi made in the past.

On the other hand, Rabbis and MKs from the nationalist camp warn against canceling the rabbi's appointment, asserting that calls to do so are attempts to undermine the Jewish character of the IDF.

Rabbi David Stav, head of the Tsohar organization, supports Rabbi Karim: "The IDF has been blessed with ethical, level-headed man, a fighter, Zionistic, a scholar.

Rabbi Moshe Hager of the pre-military academy in Yatir likewise expressed support for Rabbi Karim: "[His] appointment is excellent [...] I think that the opposition to his appointment stems from marginal factors, from people that don't understand the needs of IDF fighters," he said.