Yehuda Levin
{{Short description|American rabbi (born 1954)}}
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|name = Yehuda Levin
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|denomination= Orthodox
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Lew Y. Levin(February 4, 2013) [https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/155357/flashback-30-years-koch-writes-about-satmar-bobov-fistfights-rabbi-yehuda-levin.html "Flashback 30 Years: Koch Writes About Satmar, Bobov, Fistfights, & Rabbi Yehuda Levin"], Yeshiva World News. Retrieved January 26, 2022. or Yehuda Levin (born 1954) is a Brooklyn, New York-based Orthodox rabbiPolipace, 16 November 2017, "Meet Roy Moore’s Radical Rabbi that Wants to Kill Ivanka," http://polipace.com/2017/11/16/meet-roy-moores-radical-rabbi-wants-kill-ivanka/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121132758/https://performinsider.com/ |date=2020-11-21 }} known for his endorsing of hard-right Republican Party political candidates and his vocal opposition to gay rights, feminism, and abortion. He has run for elective office numerous times but has lost each time.
Beliefs and political activities
Levin is a vocal religious conservative and opposes LGBT rights and abortion.[https://web.archive.org/web/20010615231125/http://www.jewishunion.com/ju_right_to_life_speech010122.htm jewish israel torah traditions judaica at jewishunion.com]
Levin is a member of the advisory committee of Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation, a US-based Jewish group dedicated to fighting discrimination directed against Christians, and tends to be in alliance with Christian evangelicals on efforts opposed to LGBTQ rights and other social issues.{{cite news |last1=Singer |first1=Tibi |title=On Eve of Yom Kippur, Haredi Rabbi Calling on Pope to Reject Homosexuals |url=https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2014/10/03/on-eve-of-yom-kippur-haredi-rabbi-calling-on-pope-to-reject-homosexuals/ |access-date=11 August 2022 |date=3 October 2014}} This led to his 1996 support for Pat Buchanan.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104232848/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-2388237.html NPR]{{Cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_199903/ai_n8849318|title=Human Events by way of Find Articles}}
Levin has run for public office numerous times. He ran for Congress in 1984 on the Republican ticket; for mayor of New York City in 1985 on the Right to Life ticket, and for New York City Council in 1991 and 1993 on the Conservative ticket. He was unsuccessful in each of these elections.
Levin was involved in stopping a gay pride event from taking place in Jerusalem.{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaypride11nov11,1,93456.story?coll=la-headlines-world | work=Los Angeles Times | first=Richard | last=Boudreaux | date=11 November 2006 | title=Gay rights parade called off in Israel}}
In October 2010, Levin worked with Carl Paladino to prepare a homophobic statement that Paladino read at a meeting of New York Orthodox groups, which made national news.{{cite news |last1=Dickter |first1=Adam |title=Paladino Reads Anti-Gay Remarks Prepared By Yehuda Levin In Brooklyn |url=https://www.jta.org/2010/10/10/ny/paladino-reads-anti-gay-remarks-prepared-by-yehuda-levin-in-brooklyn |access-date=11 August 2022 |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |date=10 October 2010}} Paladino later apologized for that statement, causing Levin to withdraw his support from Paladino.[https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gHmExeElKpMEkDdz91YX4J37pS2wD9IQV0IG1?docId=D9IQV0IG1]{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
Levin is often noted in popular culture for his strong anti-gay statements, most notably his statement blaming the 2010 Haiti earthquake on the presence of homosexuals in the military.{{YouTube|tKqbRjRARFQ}}{{cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2012/10/30/fear_the_almighty_wrath_five_natural_disasters_caused_by_gays/|title=Fear the almighty wrath: Five natural disasters "caused" by gays|date=30 October 2012}} Levin posted a video onto YouTube the same day as 2011 Virginia earthquake in which he said, "The Talmud states, "You have shaken your male member in a place where it doesn’t belong. I too, will shake the Earth." He said that homosexuals shouldn't take it personally: "We don’t hate homosexuals. I feel bad for homosexuals. It’s a revolt against God and literally, there’s hell to pay."
=Endorsements=
Levin supported Randall Terry's bid to run as a Democrat in 2012 for President of the United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=40046|title=Pro-Life Activist Randall Terry Declares Candidacy for the U.S. Presidency|access-date=2011-01-22|archive-date=2011-01-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110123081556/http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=40046|url-status=dead}}
Praise and criticism
Levin, a student of Avigdor Miller, has received praise by Orthodox rabbis for defending tradition.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} Nevertheless, some Orthodox rabbis and community leaders from Ashkenazic and Hasidic communities have responded negatively to Levin.{{Citation needed|date=November 2017}} Levin has also received support from some conservative Catholics for causes relevant to the World Congress of Families.[http://www.theindiancatholic.com/newsread.asp?nid=7550 Indian Catholic]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} reprint of Zenit News Agency article
References
External links
- [http://RabbiLevin.com http://rabbilevin.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080319141958/http://www.godreignoverus.com/ https://web.archive.org/web/20080319141958/http://www.godreignoverus.com/]
- [http://www.thefearkashes.com/ Rabbi Levin's radio show]
- {{C-SPAN|33690}}
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Category:American Haredi rabbis
Category:Orthodox rabbis from New York City
Category:New York (state) Republicans
Category:Conservative Party of New York State politicians
Category:New York State Right to Life Party politicians
Category:American anti-abortion activists
Category:American anti-same-sex-marriage activists