Yehuda Levin, an ultra-conservative and controversial Orthodox rabbi, posted a video on YouTube linking yesterday’s quake with New York’s legalization of same-sex marriage earlier this summer.

UPDATE: Sometime between my writing of this post and 5 p.m., YouTube has removed this video due to its policy “prohibiting hate speech.” That did not sit well with this Jewish blogger, who said he thinks Levin is a “disgusting, loudmouthed bigot,” but also opposes censorship.

This isn’t in the least bit surprising. Levin, as you’ll recall, was a key player in the uproar over Carl Paladino’s anti-gay statements during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

He actually wrote at least one version of the Buffalo businessman’s remarks, delivered to members of the Orthodox community in Brooklyn. Paladino later apologized – more or less – for saying children shouldn’t be “brainwashed” into believing that being gay is an appropriate and acceptable “lifestyle.”

Levin promptly unendorsed Paladino during a press conference held – where else? – on the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

In the video Levin demonstrates a self-awareness and humor that I found a bit surprising, saying with just a hint of a smile:

“An email went out in my community just a few hours ago: How long will it take Rabbi Yehuda Levin to tie this earthquake in with homosexual marriage. I’d like to answer that tonight: Not very long at all. I’m happy to see that people, even if they are scofflaws, are starting to see there is a connection. Yes, there is a connection.”

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