Right-wing activists filed a complaint against a professor who ate ice cream next to worshipers on Yom Kippur, considering it an insult to the feelings of believers.

Right-wing activists today, October 13, filed a complaint with the Israeli police against Professor Itai Binyamini, who works at the Weizmann Institute. They are protesting against gender-segregated prayers organized by Rosh Yehudi in Gan Meir Park. The professor was eating ice cream next to the worshippers, and the incident was captured on video that went viral on social media.

Activists claim that this action is a serious violation of the law under Article 171 of the Criminal Code, which deals with interference with religious services. Punishment under this article can reach up to three years in prison.

Professor Itai Binyamini, who lives in Tel Aviv and works in the fields of mathematics and computer science, holds a chair at the Weizmann Institute. Rosh Yehudi promotes a messianic version of Judaism based on the teachings of Rav Kook.

Previously, Rosh Yehudi tried to organize gender-segregated prayer in a public place in central Tel Aviv on Yom Kippur. Last year, the city hall banned this event, but the organizers ignored the decision and continued to act.

The organization invited the famous rabbi Yigal Levinstein, known for his homophobic and misogynistic statements, to its seminar. In 2017, Levinstein caused a scandal with his statements about women after serving in the IDF.