Rabbi Eyal Tzionov is facing a potential defamation lawsuit demanding 200,000 shekels after publishing a video urging the public to boycott a Tel Aviv nightclub, which he described as a “place of drug users,” just days after drawing attention for his appearance at the state Independence Day ceremony.

Tzionov, who sparked widespread public controversy after managing to enter the VIP section at the official torch-lighting ceremony on Mount Herzl while dressed in the attire associated with the Rishon Letzion, has now become embroiled in another legal dispute—this time with one of Israel’s nightlife venues.

According to a report on N12, the latest episode began when Tzionov was seen at a nightclub at the Tel Aviv Port just days after the state event. Footage circulating on social media showed him dancing near the DJ booth, surrounded by large crowds who filmed the unusual sight.

However, the visit quickly turned into a public attack against the venue. In a video he later released, Tzionov called on his followers to boycott the club entirely, claiming that his visit had been intentional and aimed solely at raising awareness and persuading the public to avoid the location.

He described the venue as a “place of drug users” and called for the closure of nightclubs across Israel, arguing that such environments represent a corrupt culture incompatible with the values of the Jewish people. His remarks went beyond general criticism of nightlife and included serious allegations of criminal activity and violence.

In the video, he claimed that stabbings occur at the club and alleged that the venue is saturated with drugs and alcohol, stating that he is working “to eliminate the phenomenon at its root.” These statements, which gained wide exposure on social media, angered the club’s owners, who contend that the accusations are baseless and intended to damage their reputation and livelihood.

Following the publication of the video, attorney Oren Ben Yair, representing the club’s owners, sent a formal warning letter ahead of legal action for defamation. The letter demands that Tzionov pay substantial compensation totaling 200,000 shekels.

The attorney emphasized that the claims were false and misleading, designed to portray the establishment in a negative light and deter customers from visiting. It remains to be seen whether the matter will be resolved through a settlement or proceed to court, adding to the broader legal complications surrounding Tzionov in the wake of the Independence Day incident.

This is not the only issue Tzionov has faced in recent days. As previously reported, the Sephardic Community Committee sent him a formal warning letter demanding that he stop wearing the robe and turban associated with the Rishon Letzion. The letter stated that doing so constitutes “deception and misleading the public” and amounts to a “desecration of God’s name and a desecration of the honor of the former Rishon Letzion sages.”

Following public and legal pressure, Tzionov contacted the chairman of the Sephardic Community Committee, Avraham Doron, and agreed to stop appearing in that attire. During the conversation, he requested permission to continue wearing a robe without gold or silver embroidery and a turban without the diagonal marking associated with the Rishon Letzion, and the committee chairman agreed.

In an earlier interview prior to reaching that agreement, Tzionov explained how he began wearing the robe. “My students bought me this robe as a gift, I started wearing it on Purim and saw that the public really enjoyed it and connected to it,” he said. He added, “My goal is to bring peace and love, and everywhere I go people stop and ask, and I tell them explicitly: this is Rabbi Eyal Tzionov, I am not the Rishon Letzion.”

In recent days, Tzionov has been seen in the streets of Bnei Brak wearing Bukharian-style clothing, with the turban replaced by a regular hat.

{Matzav.com}