More than 370 rabbis committed their support to Israel by signing an open letter written by a new rabbinical coalition.
“Regardless of why we chose to become rabbis, a unifying, essential, underlying fundamental principle we all share is ahavat Yisrael, love of the Jewish people,” the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition, a grassroots coalition of rabbis from different streams wrote in their open letter on May 23.
They added, “We feel privileged to live in a time when the State of Israel exists and has been a safe harbor and place of refuge for Jews seeking freedom and fleeing from persecution. Above all, it is the expression of our identity as a nation and people, a wellspring of Jewish creativity and self-determination, where the Hebrew language has been reborn and the Jewish religion and culture thrives. We are proud Zionists.”
The letter briefly mentions the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the recent round of fighting between Israel and the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip by saying that signatories “mourn the loss of life, especially of the innocent bystanders on both sides of the conflict.”
It also highlighted the number of ways Israel and Jews around the world are being attacked, not only physically and violently, but also by being “intimidated” to voice support of Israel.
“Moral clarity demands the courage to not be afraid to say that we proudly stand with Israel,” the open letter stated. “We express our love and support for Israel, especially in its time of danger, in its eternal quest for peace and its struggle against those forces who seek to attack or demonize it—whether it be by Jews or non-Jews.
“We pray for a lasting peace and the fulfillment of the prophetic vision when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
