Rabbi Yigal Levenstein is known for making previous homophobic comments in the past, targeting the LGBT community in Israel.
By JEREMY SHARONAn activist waves an LGBT flag near Israel's Knesset building(photo credit: REUTERS)
Rabbi Yigal Levenstein, head of the pre-military academy in Eli, has caused controversy once gain by referring to homosexuals as “perverts.”During a lesson he gave in the academy several days ago, Levenstein denounced an incident he described in which he claimed a former student told him that a gay couple had been educators in an IDF course on Judasim, Channel 2 reported.“Perverts are teaching Judaism,” said Levenstein. The rabbi made similar comments earlier this year, after which the IDF demanded he issue a letter of clarification.Levenstein said his comments were “misinterpreted” but did not apologize or retract them.Levenstein has a track record of unconventional comments that have sparked controversy in the Israeli society in the past.In July 2016, Levenstein attended a rabbinical conference where he carried a speech in which he referred to gay individuals as "perverts." He also said that he prevented gay individuals from passing lectures on the subject of tolerance and respect toward the LGBT community at the IDF's Officers Training Course.Levenstein claimed in that speech that officer cadets were made to watch "films on the issue where they present the lifestyle of perverts," under the threat of court martial if they declined to watch it.His comments were denounced by multiple senior political leaders as well as IDF officials.