Bnei Akiva urged to distance itself from yeshiva after exec backs far-right extremist

Bnei Akiva is being urged to reconsider its relationship with a yeshiva in Jerusalem after the head of its overseas programme publicly backed the far-right Religious Zionism party and its controversial leader Betzalel Smotrich.

Former leaders of the religious Zionist youth movement in the UK have spoken out against Yeshivat Hakakotel’s Reuven Taragin in response to a social media post in which he said he was looking forward to collaborating with Smotrich.

In a post that has since been taken down, Taragin wrote: “I look forward to working with other yeshivot to help Betzalel (Smotrich) and the Religious Zionism party help our community.”

Taragin also personally embraced the controversial far-right extremist, saying: “I was personally impressed with Smotrich. He is both a talented politician and a true Ben Torah.”

Former mazkirs (leaders) of Bnei Akiva Jonny Lipczer, commented on Taragin’s post, saying “Bnei Akiva UK, as a politically non-partisan movement and one that claims to ‘reject all forms of racism, homophobia, and hate’, should consider which institutions are appropriate partners in its Torani programme.”

Michael Rainsbury, another former Bnei Akiva mazkir, wrote on Facebook that Taragin’s post left him feeling “empty” and “hurt”.

“I strive to be a Ben Torah…. That’s why this post hurts, as does the normalisation of, and ever-closer rapprochement between, Anglo religious Zionist institutions and the ‘Religious Zionist’ party,” Rainsbury wrote.

“I will loudly declare that as a Religious Zionist I want nothing to do with the ‘Religious Zionist’ party. It does not represent me or my values,” he added.

Smotrich is one of the most controversial lawmakers in Israel, known for his virulent anti-LGBTQ stance, racist comments toward Palestinians and Arab-Israelis and promotion of Israeli law based on the Torah.

After removing his post, Taragin wrote: “Sadly, the post offended many people. I have therefore removed it.” He did not apologise or elaborate on whether he still supports the controversial party and its leader.

Yeshivat Hakotel is among the four yeshivas in Israel that Bnei Akiva UK students are offered to attend for a year of learning.

“The aim of the year is to build a love and commitment to Torah and Yirat Hashem, while at the same time providing tools of leadership, hadracha training and hasbara knowledge. The goal of the year is to infuse the participants’ passion for contributing to their personal future and the future of Am Yisrael,” it says on Bnei Akiva’s website.

Bnei Akiva’s Mazkir, Gidon Schwartz, failed to respond to repeated approaches from Jewish News about whether it would reconsider its relationship with the yeshiva.

Bnei Akiva has previously taken a tough stance against Smotrich, distancing itself from the Religious Zionism party leader after two of its members had met with him during his trip to London in February.

Bnei Akiva wrote on its Facebook page at the time: “We are aware that two Bnei Akiva Shlichim recently met MK Bezalel Smotrich and we know this has caused upset and hurt. We want to make clear that the meeting went ahead without Bnei Akiva UK’s knowledge and that the Shlichim attended in an individual capacity. They were not representing Bnei Akiva UK which remains a politically non-partisan movement committed to educating our Chaverim towards tolerance and understanding in accordance with the ideals of Religious Zionism and Torah Va’Avodah.

“As a movement we would like to reaffirm our values of Ahavat Yisrael, encouraging inclusion and acceptance of all, and rejecting all forms of racism, homophobia and hate,” it added.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews also called on the community to refrain from engaging with Smotrich while he was in London.

“We call on all members of the British Jewish community to show him the door. Get back on the plane, Bezalel, and be remembered as a disgrace forever,” it said.

Smotrich responded to the Board of Deputies statement, calling it a “small group” that tried to “silence him.”

Far-right extremist Itamar Ben-Gvir, who’s currently running side-by-side with Smotrich in the upcoming election, defended his colleague at the time saying the Board of Deputies was influenced by “leftist Reform” Jews and that it had “forgotten what it means to be Jewish.

“The organisation does not represent the majority of Jews in the UK. In any case, it is good that my friend Bezalel Smotrich, who loves the Land of Israel and the Jewish people, came to support the Jewish community (in the UK) and to explain his views,” Ben-Gvir added.