Benny Kalmanson
Rabbi Benny Kalmanson | |
|---|---|
בנימין קלמנזון | |
 Kalmanson speaking at Yeshivat Otniel | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | May 23, 1957 |
| Children | 6 |
| Occupation | Rabbi |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Orthodox |
Binyamin "Benny" Kalmanson (Hebrew: בנימין קלמנזון), or Kalmanzon, is a religious Zionist Israelis rabbi who founded Yeshivat Otniel and headed the yeshiva until 2022.[1]
Early life
Kalmanson grew up in the Nave Sha'anan neighborhood of Haifa. He attended a regular high school, then later a high school yeshiva in Netanya and also the Noam Midrash in Pardes Hanna. During his studies at the Yeshivat HaKotel, he became a student of rabbi Shagar and was greatly influenced by him. He became a rabbi after studying at the Bnei David Institute in Psagot, and was ordained by rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
During his military service in the Israel Defense Forces, Kalmanson served as a soldier and officer in the 77th Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade.
Career
Kalmanson served as the head of the hesder yeshiva at Kiryat Shmona. In 1987, he founded a kollel with rabbi Ami Olami in Otniel, called the Yeshivat Otniel. In 1993, Kalmanson invited rabbi Re'em Ha'Cohen to serve alongside as head of the yeshiva. In October 2021, Kalmanson announced his retirement from leading the yeshiva,[2] and left in 2022.[1]
Kalmanson was a doctoral candidate in Israeli history and thought, but did not complete his doctoral thesis. He also serves as a member of the pedagogical council of the School for Holocaust Studies.[3] As part of Holocaust remembrance, Kalmanson works as a tour guide for youth and adults visiting Poland. During the Holocaust, Kalmanson's own father was in Warsaw, and Kalmanson's entire family was murdered.[4][5][6]
Amidst worsening Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, Kalmanson joined other settler leaders in rejecting the acts of violence done against Palestinians.[7]
In January 2026, Kalmanson spoke at an event protesting against a Knesset bill that would allow for Haredi draft exemption,[8] arguing that it would endanger the state.[9]
In July 2026, Kalmanson and other rabbis expressed disappointment towards the Religious Zionist Party and are exploring the possibility of creating a new right-wing party.[10]
Personal life
Kalmanson is married to Yochi, a psychologist, they have six children and live in Otniel.
During the October 7 attacks, two of Kalmanson's sons and one grandson arrived at Be'eri to help rescue residents. This threesome was afterwards popularly referred to as the Elhanan Team. During fighting in the Be'eri massacre, Kalmanson's eldest son Elhanan was killed.[11][12]
Kalmanson's nephew, Pdaya Mark, was killed while fighting in the Gaza war, while another nephew, Shlomi Mark, was killed in a car accident while heading to work.[13]
On 21 April 2026 during Yom HaZikaron, Kalmanson played the harmonica at the grave of his son in commemoration.[14]
References
- 1 2 Gotlieb, Jonathan (22 August 2022). "בישיבת עתניאל החליפו ראשי ישיבה" [Yeshiva Otniel changed heads of yeshiva] (in Hebrew). Arutz Sheva.
- ↑ "תם עידן: הרב בני קלמנזון פורש מראשות ישיבת עתניאל" [End of an era: Rabbi Benny Clemenzon retires from the leadership of Yeshiva Otniel]. Makor Rishon. 7 October 2021.
- ↑ "מידע על הרב קלמנזון באתר ישיבת עתניאל" [Information about Rabbi Clemenzon on the Otniel Yeshiva website]. Otniel.
- ↑ "ח"כ כהנא ניחם את משפחת קלמנזון: "הצילו חברי קיבוץ רבים מהתופת" [MK Kahane comforts the Clemenzon family: "They saved many kibbutz members from the inferno, my father in Warsaw did not see such horrors"]. Arutz Sheva. 16 October 2023.
- ↑ Yaakovi, Yoel (5 January 2006). "מסע אל הגורל היהודי" [Journey to the Jewish Destiny]. Arutz Sheva.
- ↑ "דברים שלא ידעתם על הרב בני קלמנזון" [Things You Didn't Know About Rabbi Benny Clemenzon]. Kipa. 17 April 2013.
- ↑ Maltz, Judy. "Settler Leaders Join Calls to Rein in Jewish Terror Against Palestinians in West Bank". Ha'aretz.
- ↑ "'This is our children's legacy': Families of fallen soldiers protest draft exemption law". Ynet. 15 January 2026.
- ↑ "Rabbi Kalmanson attacks draft law: 'A danger to Israel; Hashem will not forgive them.'". Arutz Sheva. 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "Disappointed with Religious Zionists, rabbis weigh new party". Arutz Sheva. 3 July 2026.
- ↑ "הרב בני קלמנזון בישר לתלמידיו: בני הגדול נפל בקרב" [Rabbi Benny Clemenzon announced to his students: My eldest son fell in battle] (in Hebrew). Srugim. 8 October 2023.
- ↑ "סיפור הגבורה המדהים של צוות אלחנן קלמנזון" [The incredible heroic story of the Elhanan Kalmanson team]. 23 October 2023 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Horodnitsano, Maya (31 March 2019). "שלוש שנים אחרי רצח אביו בפיגוע: שלומי מרק נהרג בתאונה בכביש 6" [Three years after his father was murdered in a terror attack: Shlomi Mark was killed in an accident on Highway 6] (in Hebrew). Walla!.
- ↑ "Otniel Military Cemetery: Rabbi Kalmanson plays harmonica by son's grave". Arutz Sheva. 21 April 2026.