Being a "secular women" I am sure your pride yourself on being liberal and open minded. Yet you have the audacity to say things like "You don't deserve to be have the freedom and rights of a human being." never the less another Jew. You ridicule these womens way of life as "ridiculous, primitive and absurd ideology". Let me guess the secular ideology of dressing girls their girls as prostitutes at a young age, practically encouraging teen age pregnancy, divorce and a lifestyle empty of any real substance is a consider step above. I think the only contempt you should see is when you look in the mirror. Some advice, which might be hard to take, as you are so enlightened. Live and let live, don't judge other people by your warped standards, just accept them as is.

What religion is he a rabbi of, more likely a superstition. Do we have place for these guys in the Jewsih Religion?

The kind of thinking R. Levanon has demonstrated is usually associated with fundamentalist Muslims. Seriously, going "through her husband"? What's next, requiring a male relative to accompany her outside the house? National Zionist rabbis used to evince more openness and common sense. Levanon should be dismissed. Apropos, I recently read Wafa Sultan's "A God Who Hates". She notes how, under Islam, the woman is property, less than a man, and unworthy of autonomy. From that all the rest follows. There's a lesson here.

I don't believe this! Jewish Orhtodox women not allowed to run for public office? I find that deeply offensive. And to Haya (#16 commentor): you have the right to express your views and call fellow Jews who hold differing views "anit-Semites"? How dare you??? So because we differ in opinions we are anti-Semites? You should be ashamed of yourself. !

We must be thankful to the Creator that the thoughts that go through Levanon's mind when he sees a woman are not visible on his forehead. It must be like a sewer in there. For whatever it's worth, Rabbi JB Soloveitchik's wife, sister and daughter were, at separate times, the chairwomen of the School Committee of Maimonides School, the Hebrew Day School that the Rav founded. I'll take the example set by Rabbi Soloveitchik over the shameful words of Levanon.

This Taliban "Rabbi" is anti-woman, which makes him anti-Jewish, and an enemy of the Torah, and an enemy of Hashem. A Cherem should be placed on him. He should be excommunicated swiftly. Unfortunately, the other Rabbis don't fear Hashem, so they'll do nothing.

This is further proof of the misogynistic nature of the Jewish religion. It looks down on the Muslims but who do the rabbis think they got it from in the first place seeing that Islam began a few thousand years later! What pathetic fools.

Once again the secular press takes the psak of a highly respected Rav given in relation to a specific matter i.e. the office of community secretary of Elon Moreh and from that extrapolates a rule for everyone which it was not. The anti-religious posters then blow it out of all proportion to feed their anti-religious frenzies. None of you live in Elon Moreh and so the ruling does not apply to you so of what business is it of yours to call the Rav of Elon Moreh such disgusting things. You have no idea of the good both he and his Rebbetzen does for the whole community. Shame on you all.

While I respect Yitzhak's opinion (#25) it should be noted that Chief Rabbi Levanon, while addressing just one woman's concerns, fired a shot across the bow of all women. The Rabbi expresses the view that it is not permissible for a woman to hold public office. That means ALL women, period. Why is this news? It is news, Yitzhak, because injustice ANYWHERE thretaens justice EVERYWHERE! It is news, Yithak, because one of modern Israel's prime ministers was a woman. It is news, Yithak, because it is high time that the gender injustices of Judaism to be brought to the fore, period!

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to follow them. a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them? b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her? c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense. d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians? e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? g) Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here? h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die? i) I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves? j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev. 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14) I do look forward to your enlightenment regarding the questions that puzzle me. Then I shall pass them along to others who may appreciate your moral leadership. Sincerely.

Rav Elyakim Levanon is not mainstream among the religious zionist camp. He is very much on the fringe. However, it's good that ynet reports stuff like this. It has the potential to influence change. For example, high school students will read this and think, "I'll be sure to stay away from him, I don't want to hear what he has to say."

Israel is a JEWISH State. All of the seculars who complain about Jewish religious laws should go to Europe and join their atheist brethren. We are tired of you seculars who live here but are only Jewish in name and no more.

the messiah said "blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled,blessed be ye poor for yours is the kingdom of God,blessed are ye that hunger now for ye shall be filled,blessed are ye that weep now for ye shall laugh,blessed are ye,when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the son of man´s sake,rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in the kingdom for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets but woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets,strive to enter in at the strait gate for many i say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able when once the rabbi of the house is risen up and hath shut to the door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying lord lord open unto us and he shall answer and say unto you i know you not whence ye are then shall ye begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say i tell you i know you not whence ye are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see avraham and isaac and yaakov and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourself thrust out and they shall come from the east and from the west and from the north and from the south and shall sit down in the kingdom of God and behold there are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last,two men went up into the temple to pray the one a pharisee and the other a publican,the pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself God i thank thee that i am not as other men are extortioners unjust adulterers or even as this publican i fast twice in the week i give tithes of all that i posses and the publican standing afar off would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying God be merciful to me a sinner i tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humblethe himself shall be exalted,are ye so without understanding also? do ye perceive that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man it cannot defile him because it entereth not into his heart but into the belly and goeth out into the draught purging all meats? that which cometh out of the man that defileth the man for from within out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts,adulteries,fornications, murders,thefts,covetousness, wickedness,deceit,lasciviousness, an evil eye,blasphemy,pride,foolishness all these evil things come from within and defile the man,whosoever will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel´s the same shall save it for what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with the holy angels,verily i say unto you shall receive an hundredfold now in this time houses and brethen and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life but many that are first shall be last and the last first.Let´s go to kill the great satan!!!

Has he forgotten that the 4th Prime Minister of Israel was a woman?

It is NOT Jewish law to make women be seen and not heard outside the family home. This comes from men who are too lazy to get real jobs and are threatened by women. And who don't have enough self-discipline and self-control that they cannot be around women. Or they are women-haters. They are no different from Muslim extremists.

We should not care what Elyakim Levanon, of Elon Moreh or what Rav Kook says. They apply their own rule to the Torah and Tanakh. This what word of Adonai Says 'Softim 4.4-5, 9-10 Now Devorah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she sat under the palm-tree of Devorah between Ramah and Beth-el in the hill-country of Ephraim; and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she (Devorah) said: 'I will surely go with thee; notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thy honour; for the LORD will give Sisera over into the hand of a woman.' And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh; and there went up ten thousand men at his feet; and Devorah went up with him.' Here one can see Devorah had all the authority even over Barak. She did mix with men even though she was married.

you copied the script from a TV show. STPID!

This is yet another instance of how irrelevant the rabbinate is to thinking people. Let them keep it up - it will only hasten a return to Israeli Judaism, where centuries of ad-ons obscure - and in some cases prevent- real closeness to Hashem.

Religious people have rights , seculars too . It are MOSTLY the seculars who have build this country , and brought prosperity to it , and not the Jewish laws who already restrain our life more than enough . I we , the seculars would leave , you will stay in a a poor country .

How does he handle women's opinions if they are single, divorced or widowed then??? Not worth hearing I guess uh? And if she IS married, then she is a "lesser threat" Cant believe I'm reading this piece of Talibanic Shaaria Trash

Are you people illiterate or just insulting? Where did I say I agree with what this rabbi said? I didn't. And dont give me this garbage that its just about disagreeing with him. People here wrote that he "isn't a rabbi" he "is a dinosaur", that he makes them sick to be religious, that he should "crawl back in his cave", that he is primitive, etc etc. That is nothing but sick hate. You can disagree, but this is pathetic and shameful. And by the way, Rabbi Avraham Y. Kook is the source of this rabbi's ruling, but I don't think many of you would talk about him the way you did abuot rabbi levanon. I dont agree with what he said, but it is his legitimate opinion; the only thing that really bothers me is how fascistic alot of people are becoming today, that they can't bear to see someone have a different opinion than them.

Talula, please. You are simply a fascist who cannot bear to see people with different opinions express themselves. You can disagree, but if you are going to pretend to be a civil person and have a civil society, you can't spread hate just because you disagree. Your sick justification of hate just shows what a pathetic child you are.

Have we gone mad? Have we now joined the Taliban? What next? Will women not be allowed to be seen in public?

Sarah talked with G-d before Isaac was born. Miriam, Devorah, Judith all led Jewish people. Men and women mixed together for centuries. It is only in modern history that Jewish women became subjugated. The rabbi needs to pay more attention to what the Torah actually says.

Join a Sinagogue and discuss the matters without prejudice. This kind of prejudice towards Torah that you show should not belong to a Jew. The serious study of Torah brings you above and beyond the literal,and matters that shock us(as the one you pointed out the other day)also belong to discussion and to growing. This is Judaism-growing and enlightening,always. It is this that makes us Jews. Confrontation against Torah,gainst our Sages and against our ancient wisdom is not the way for enlightenment.That's for sure!

Yes Roland , of course i copied , but i think stupid is who do not know how to express himself like you.

to live the life of the Torah one faces the integrity and wholeness of our human essence...the domination of modern day 2010 takes to the material world...nevertheless we respect Rabbi's choices...[or else, relocate]

At last you are beginning to learn from your neighbours and adopting practices from our glorious Arab culture. Women should not be working in public or other offices. They should be at home where they belong, either in the kitchen or raising babies. This rabbi is right. Finally, you are beginning to get it. If you continue in this manner you will finally assimilate into the rest of the Middle East.