Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi: Excuse religious soldiers from events where women sing

[SecularMotion]

Israel Defense Forces soldiers whose religious beliefs don't allow them to listen to women sing should have the right to be excused from attending such events, Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger said in a halakhic ruling disseminated on Monday.

His entry into the fray follows Sunday's comments by IDF Chief Rabbi Rafi Peretz, who expressed support for the religious cadets who walked out of an IDF heritage event several weeks ago after a mixed group of male and female vocalists took the stage. Four of the nine cadets were expelled when they refused to express remorse for their actions.

Peretz will soon issue his own halakhic opinion on the matter to IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. The army will then issue explicit regulations on the issue.

In response to Peretz's comments, the IDF Spokesman subsequently clarified that the rabbi strongly condemns any refusal to follow orders, and his expression of support related only to the five cadets who apologized and were therefore not expelled from the course.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/ashkenazi-chief-rabbi-excuse-religious-soldiers-from-events-where-women-sing-1.386904