Haredi Leaders Make Peace With "X-Ray" Rabbi

Leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis, who less than a year ago accused kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Israel Ifergan of paganism and called him a "fiend," have decided to make peace with him. 

Rabbis make peace with 'X-ray rabbi' following election fallout
By Yair Ettinger • Ha'aretz

The leading ultra-Orthodox rabbis, who less than a year ago accused kabbalist Rabbi Yaakov Israel Ifergan of paganism and called him a "fiend," have decided to make peace with him. 

During the stormy election campaign in Netivot, the Ashkenazi rabbis warned that anyone associated with Ifergan, who is known as the "X-ray rabbi," would have no part in the hereafter. 

The attack followed Ifergan's decision to withdraw from the Haredi bloc in the local elections and run for town council on a separate list. 

Last week, on the eve of the Days of Awe, Ifergan's attempts at reconciliation succeeded, when the rabbis who attacked him - Aharon Leib Steinman, Haim Kanyevsky, Nissim Karelitz and Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz - agreed to host him in their homes. 

Last November these rabbis signed a letter accusing Ifergan of evil doings that "bring darkness on the town," "breaching fences of holiness," "sewing divisiveness among the God-fearing and undermining the rabbis' leadership." The letter also threatened that anyone associated with Ifergan would have no part in the next world. 

Haredi arbiter Rabbi Yosef Sholom Elyashiv and Ifergan's archrival, Rabbi Issachar Meir, head of Netivot's Negev Yeshiva, also signed the letter. 

Ultra-Orthodox journalist Yanky Bichler, who played a part in the reconciliation, told Haaretz that the rabbis' objection to Ifergan softened when they heard of his charity, and the kollel and Haredi elementary school he led in Netivot. Bichler said the rabbis commended Ifergan and "treated him royally." 

A few months ago Ifergan made peace with Netivot's mayor, Yehiel Zohar, who had also fallen out with him during the election campaign. 

Recently their relations were tested when the municipality demanded that Ifergan pay a large debt he owed and threatened to confiscate his bank accounts. But sources close to Ifergan said he paid and ended the conflict.

Comments

[Yochanan Lavie]

X-Ray rabbi? Who says there's no transparency in the rabbinate?

[nobody]

Why is he referred to as "Xray rabbi" ? The article does not give any details about that. Please explain the nickname.

Also, why should he be cursed and condemned because he takes a different political stance? Obviously he was charitable and ran a yeshiva before they attacked him too.

[anon]

He is called the X Ray Rabbi because he sees through people.

[ah-pee-chorus]

: nobody :

+++why should he be cursed and condemned because he takes a different political stance? Obviously he was charitable and ran a yeshiva before they attacked him too.
+++++

we agree (again). could it be that rabbis make rulings based on their own self interests and little else? and that the torah is just a cover for extending their power base and sphere of influence?

[WoolSilkCotton]

Maybe he used to be a radiology technician.

[David Jackson]

"The letter also threatened that anyone associated with Ifergan would have no part in the next world. "

Very harsh comments. According to the saysing of these Rabbis themselves, these rabbis themselves just might have no part in the next world as they just recently associated themselves with Ifergan.

[Dr. Dave]

Vote our way or you will suffer eternal death.

Sounds like the Obama campaign for his ludicrous health reform plan.

[alternative childcare]

Dr. Dave: Yes, now the older patients who can't afford expensive drugs like anti-fungals can simply die rapidly in the present, and the insurance companies profit! yay!

[WoolSIlkCotton]

Will the X-ray Rebbe approve an MRI for a sick friend?

[Isa]

Obama health plan

Did you know that private companies pay a higher premium on health insurance according to the amount of older workers that they have on the payroll? Have any chronic ailments? Up goes the premium.
Sooo when faced with a need to 'downsize' the older worker gets laid off.

This is the reason for age discrimination

[sildenafil]

It is possible that this man has the letter also threatened that anyone associated with Ifergan would have no part in the other world. It is simply not fair ...