The number of signatures on a petition supporting Rabbi Yigal Levinstein and freedom of halachic expression has been steadily increasing. Rabbi Levinstein became the target of media ire after he purportedly derided gays and Reform Jews at a conference of rabbis.
In the aftermath of a "clarifying conversation" which Rabbi Levinstein was forced to hold with the Director-General of the Defense Ministry, the number of signatories has risen to a whopping 500 in number.
In the letter, the rabbis express support "for any Rabbi that expresses his halachic and ethical opinion out of faithfulness to the Torah and Sages of Israel, without apology or bias."
The rabbis explain that "the love for every member of Israel, and the obligation to treat everyone with respect, cannot be used to distort the truth of Jewish law or to 'round corners' regarding forbidden actions. It is incumbent on a rabbi to address halachic issues in a clear fashion, therefore we reject attempts to silence the rabbis of Israel."
They finish their declaration by saying that "the rabbis of Israel will continue to express their halachic opinions, out of responsibility for the public, without fear, on every topic required, for the sake of the silent majority, religious and secular alike."