6 months probation to the one who offended the former military Rabbi

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court sentenced this afternoon (Monday) Rabbi Elitzur Segal, linguistic editor of the website Jewish leadership to six months probation, a compensation fine of NIS 4,000 and a fine of NIS 3,000 after being convicted of insulting the former military Rebbi, Rabbi Yisrael Weiss .


Segal was convicted last week of insulting a public official, after publishing an article in 2004 on Jewish leadership in which he snapped a series of accusations and criticism against the then Chief Military Rabbi, reserves Brigadier General Rabbi Yisrael Weiss.


Judge Ilta Ziskind's ruling is considered rare person since he convicted a man of a criminal offense on the statement made against a public figure.

In the judgment the judge quoted some of the things written 8 years ago which led to the conviction of Rabbi Segal: "When disengagement plan came up, a scheme which involves the demolition of city land and deportations of thousands of Jews, who if not the chief military rabbi was supposed to issue a categorically forbidding any soldier officer or citizen to take part in this foul act? "


Rabbi Segal also wrote, according to the judgment: "But the army chaplain is not silent, but backs the plan from every platform. The Chief Army Rabbi was partner to cancel the commandment to settle in the land considered as the entire Torah."

Rabbi Segal argued then that Rabbi Weiss was involved in a series of violations of the law, including a partnership murder, incest and desecration of the Sabbath. "Since the establishments of the state female Israeli soldiers serve. But about 5 years ago, a change took place when their service to men became very close, which causes situations of severe incest prohibitions. The Military Rabbi remains silent about it, and thunderous silence is more than a thousand speakers ... the military Rabbi is a partner of incest."

Segal argued that there was no insult in his words, but was a professional opinion and to the point, which is part of freedom of expression. During his trial he pleaded not guilty, and claimed that he has evidence of the support of officers that Weiss did not fulfill his duties. He also presented the court with halachic sources which "support the conclusions", but the judge, was not impressed - which convicted him of insulting a public official.

"The defendant slammed the chief military rabbi with most difficult words, accompanied by offensive and unthinkable words," explained Ziskind in her judgment. It stated: "The article hit the core of the dignity and role of the rabbi, both as a religion and as a military man, and is therefore like one who "publicly humiliates his friends, like he spilled blood".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!