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Moshe Levinger, Contentious Leader of Jewish Settlers in Hebron, Dies at 80 Moshe Levinger, Contentious Leader of Jewish Settlers in Hebron, Dies at 80
(about 18 hours later)
JERUSALEM — Moshe Levinger, a firebrand rabbi who spearheaded the modern Jewish settlement in the heart of the ancient and predominantly Palestinian city of Hebron, and who helped spread settlements in the territories Israel conquered in the 1967 war, died here on Friday. He was 80. JERUSALEM — Moshe Levinger, a firebrand rabbi who spearheaded the modern Jewish settlement in the heart of the ancient and predominantly Palestinian city of Hebron, and who helped spread settlements in the territories Israel conquered in the 1967 war, died here on Friday. He was 80.
His death, at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, was confirmed by a hospital spokeswoman, who said he had been in ill health since having a stroke in 2007 and had been admitted for treatment in April after an epileptic seizure. Rabbi Levinger was a polarizing figure in Israeli society. He was celebrated by supporters of the religious and ideological settler movement, who viewed Israel’s capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with Gaza, in the 1967 war as a sign of messianic redemption. Asserting that God had promised the biblical heartland to the Jewish people, they saw it as their duty to settle it and never give it up. His death, at Shaare Zedek Medical Center, was confirmed by a hospital spokeswoman, who said he had been in ill health since having a stroke in 2007 and had been admitted for treatment in April after an epileptic seizure.
Rabbi Levinger was a polarizing figure in Israeli society. He was celebrated by supporters of the religious and ideological settler movement, who viewed Israel’s capture of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with Gaza, in the 1967 war as a sign of messianic redemption. Asserting that God had promised the biblical heartland to the Jewish people, they saw it as their duty to settle it and never give it up.
But for Israelis who yearned for a political resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Rabbi Levinger’s push for settlement, and particularly the reclamation of old Jewish properties in Hebron, was seen as part of a provocative agenda to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. In a condolence letter to the Levinger family, a copy of which was distributed to reporters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Rabbi Levinger as “an outstanding example of a generation that sought to realize the Zionist dream, in deed and in spirit, after the Six-Day War.”But for Israelis who yearned for a political resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Rabbi Levinger’s push for settlement, and particularly the reclamation of old Jewish properties in Hebron, was seen as part of a provocative agenda to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. In a condolence letter to the Levinger family, a copy of which was distributed to reporters, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described Rabbi Levinger as “an outstanding example of a generation that sought to realize the Zionist dream, in deed and in spirit, after the Six-Day War.”
The Israeli authorities arrested Rabbi Levinger many times. In September 1988, after Palestinians threw stones at his car in Hebron, he opened fire, shooting randomly toward shops and killing a Palestinian shopkeeper. In a plea bargain, Rabbi Levinger was convicted of death by negligence. He served three months of a five-month prison sentence.The Israeli authorities arrested Rabbi Levinger many times. In September 1988, after Palestinians threw stones at his car in Hebron, he opened fire, shooting randomly toward shops and killing a Palestinian shopkeeper. In a plea bargain, Rabbi Levinger was convicted of death by negligence. He served three months of a five-month prison sentence.
Rabbi Levinger burst into the public eye in April 1968, when he led a group of settlers into the Park Hotel in Hebron to celebrate the Passover holiday and refused to leave. For the next three years the group lived in the Israeli military compound in Hebron, until the settlement of Kiryat Arba was established adjacent to Hebron, with Israeli government approval.Rabbi Levinger burst into the public eye in April 1968, when he led a group of settlers into the Park Hotel in Hebron to celebrate the Passover holiday and refused to leave. For the next three years the group lived in the Israeli military compound in Hebron, until the settlement of Kiryat Arba was established adjacent to Hebron, with Israeli government approval.
A disciple of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, a spiritual leader of religious Zionism and the settlement movement, Rabbi Levinger was prominent in the Gush Emunim, which means “bloc of the faithful.” It led the religious settlement movement for years, beginning with efforts to settle the hills of biblical Samaria in the northern West Bank.A disciple of Rabbi Zvi Yehuda Kook, a spiritual leader of religious Zionism and the settlement movement, Rabbi Levinger was prominent in the Gush Emunim, which means “bloc of the faithful.” It led the religious settlement movement for years, beginning with efforts to settle the hills of biblical Samaria in the northern West Bank.
But Rabbi Levinger’s personal mission was to revive a Jewish presence in Hebron. The remnants of the community left the city after 67 Jews were killed during the Arab riots of 1929, and the few who returned left after riots in 1936.But Rabbi Levinger’s personal mission was to revive a Jewish presence in Hebron. The remnants of the community left the city after 67 Jews were killed during the Arab riots of 1929, and the few who returned left after riots in 1936.
Rabbi Levinger’s wife, Miriam, was among a group of women and children who stole into Beit Hadassah, formerly a clinic run by the Hebron Jewish community, one night in 1979. A standoff with the Israeli government ensued. After a deadly Arab attack outside the building in 1980, the government relented and allowed a permanent Jewish presence in Hebron.Rabbi Levinger’s wife, Miriam, was among a group of women and children who stole into Beit Hadassah, formerly a clinic run by the Hebron Jewish community, one night in 1979. A standoff with the Israeli government ensued. After a deadly Arab attack outside the building in 1980, the government relented and allowed a permanent Jewish presence in Hebron.
Today, several hundred Jews live in Hebron, home to about 170,000 Palestinians, and relations are tense. More than 650,000 Israelis live across the 1967 lines, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in settlements that most of the world considers a violation of international law.Today, several hundred Jews live in Hebron, home to about 170,000 Palestinians, and relations are tense. More than 650,000 Israelis live across the 1967 lines, in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in settlements that most of the world considers a violation of international law.
Moshe Levinger was born in Jerusalem in 1935, two years after his parents, Eliezer and Tirza Levinger, known as Paula, immigrated to Palestine from Germany. Before becoming active in the settlement movement, he served as the community rabbi of a religious kibbutz, or communal farm, and then of a cooperative village.Moshe Levinger was born in Jerusalem in 1935, two years after his parents, Eliezer and Tirza Levinger, known as Paula, immigrated to Palestine from Germany. Before becoming active in the settlement movement, he served as the community rabbi of a religious kibbutz, or communal farm, and then of a cooperative village.
Besides his wife, he is survived by 11 children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One son, Malachi, leads the Kiryat Arba-Hebron local Jewish council.Besides his wife, he is survived by 11 children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One son, Malachi, leads the Kiryat Arba-Hebron local Jewish council.
Reuven Rivlin, who holds the largely ceremonial post of president of Israel and who has long rejected the idea of territorial partition, eulogized Rabbi Levinger at his funeral on Sunday outside Hebron’s holiest site, revered by Jews as the Tomb of the Patriarchs and by Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque, where the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs are said to be buried.Reuven Rivlin, who holds the largely ceremonial post of president of Israel and who has long rejected the idea of territorial partition, eulogized Rabbi Levinger at his funeral on Sunday outside Hebron’s holiest site, revered by Jews as the Tomb of the Patriarchs and by Muslims as the Ibrahimi Mosque, where the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs are said to be buried.
“My dear Rabbi Moshe,” President Rivlin said, “they say you were not a man of consensus, and that is certainly true. Yet you never neglected to make an effort to involve as many people as you could in your endeavors.”“My dear Rabbi Moshe,” President Rivlin said, “they say you were not a man of consensus, and that is certainly true. Yet you never neglected to make an effort to involve as many people as you could in your endeavors.”
Rabbi Levinger was buried in Hebron’s ancient Jewish cemetery.Rabbi Levinger was buried in Hebron’s ancient Jewish cemetery.