After confusing viewers at the torchlight ceremony and making many think it was Rishon LeZion, Eyal Tsionov rejects the allegations against him.
In an interview with Noam Amir on Channel 14, he explains why he dresses like this, dismisses allegations of impersonation, and declares: "My mission is to bring peace.".
""I have to ask you a question, without God forbid hurting your honor, but who are you? Are you really a rabbi?" Amir began the interview.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
Tsionov replied: "I am now fifty years old, since the age of ten I have been giving lessons all over the country... I have taught thousands and tens of thousands of students over the years, taught at the Musayyif, and authored five books with the approvals of our Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Rabbi Karelitz and Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, and all the great men of the generation.".
When the question of clothing came up, he responded: "No pretender. Rabbi. I have been focusing in recent years on the issue of peace and free love... The righteous told me, of course it is hidden, people know about it, and they told me that my interest in bringing about redemption is through peace, and that is why I do all these actions, which sometimes seem strange.".
He addressed the critics who doubted his identity and explained that they were violating the explicit words of the 'Cafetz Chaim': "This is probably out of jealousy. It is forbidden to speak slander even if a person commits an offense. Even if it is for benefit, seven conditions are needed, and there are never seven conditions. The way one speaks openly is already one of the conditions that is forbidden.".
