Rabbis urge boycott over Dana International’s role in torch ceremony  

A number of religious Zionist rabbis published a public letter on Monday calling on the public to boycott the Independence Day torch-lighting ceremony due to the participation of transgender singer Dana International, who was chosen this year by Minister Miri Regev to carry a torch.

In addition, the rabbis attacked the performance of singer Nasrin Kadri, who underwent a Reform conversion. The rabbis began by writing: "We were horrified to hear that on the upcoming Independence Day, the official ceremony of the State of Israel, personalities who would be inconceivable to represent the state of the Jewish people in any way on its Independence Day were invited to light a torch or perform, " 

The rabbis attacked Dana International's choice to carry a torch, explaining: "Besides the desecration of God's name in such an event, the educational damage to the children of Israel is so severe that they learn that it is precisely those who try to deny nature and cut off parts of their body, as well as those who deny their people and encourage intermarriage in their very lives, who are honored and admired in the state ceremonies of our country."

Among the rabbis who signed the letter are the former rabbi of Kiryat Arba Rabbi Dov Lior, the president of the Har Mor Yeshiva Rabbi Zvi Tau, the head of the Ateret Yerushalayim Yeshiva Rabbi Shlomo Aviner and the head of the Mitzpe Jericho Yeshiva Rabbi Shabtai Sabato.