An Israeli radio show host was suspended after saying on his broadcast that he would be glad if some observant Israeli Jews would “hang themselves with their tefillin (phylacteries).” “All these pieces of garbage, they’re quoting verses from the Bible to me. Pray, put on tefillin, light Shabbat candles, take Challah,” 103FM’s Natan Zehavi said, referencing the Jewish law of setting aside a piece of dough before baking bread.
“Go to hell with the modesty, the challahs, the candle lighting, and the tefillin. I would be happy if some of them would tie the tefillin around their throats and hang themselves..."
103FM said the comments, were “blunt and insulting.”
“These words have no place on the station’s broadcasts, and we condemn them in every way,” the radio station said. “Freedom of expression also has red lines.”
The radio station’s director said Zehavi’s suspension was effective immediately, and that his future at the station was not clear.
Zehavi later issued an apology for the comments.
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