Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Jerusalem Shlomo Amar issued a statement this week condemning a recent string of harassment incidents targeting Christians in the holy city, Israel’s capital.
“We were sorry to hear from non-Jewish clerics that a number of young Jews and some of whom pretend to be G-d-fearing, persecute them with curses, blasphemies and more. as they walk in the streets of the city,” Rabbi Amar said.
“No doubt, irresponsible people who are not observant of the Torah and its ways did this,” he added. “We announce that such behavior is strictly forbidden. We are not permitted to disparage any person who was created in the image of G-d.”
Attacks against Christians are “strictly prohibited”, “a grave sin” and “not the Jewish way”.
An important statement by Rabbi Amar, Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, addressing the repeated attacks on Christian priests and pilgrims in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/SFCjxugFlC
— Emmanuel Nahshon (@EmmanuelNahshon) June 5, 2023
Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem Fleur Hassan-Nahoum commented, “Jerusalem is a city that sanctifies freedom of religion so when I received complaints about Christians being harassed in the old city we took action. Pleased the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem has sent out a public letter to clarify that this is against Jewish Law and should stop.”
Jerusalem is a city that sanctifies freedom of religion so when I received complaints about Christians being harassed in the old city we took action. Pleased the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem has sent out a public letter to clarify that this is against Jewish Law and should stop pic.twitter.com/Aff22XRMNq
— פלר חסן נחום Fleur Hassan-Nahoum (@FleurHassanN) June 5, 2023
Reverend Johnnie Moore — a Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Advisory Board member — replied to Hassan-Nahoum, “Thank you, Mayor. These incidents almost never happen (I haven’t seen anything like this on my many visits), but such decisive & immediate action is admirable & it shows the strength of Israeli democracy.”
“Grateful also for the Chief Rabbi’s sentiments,” Moore continued. “He clearly recognizes the unique era of friendship between Jews & Christians we now enjoy…rare in history and something to cherish. A better use of this spiritual energy is for Jewish and Christian clergy, as proud Jews and proud Christians, to study the Hebrew Bible, together…united in the love of their shared scriptures and in their passion to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
Thank you, Mayor.
These incidents almost never happen (I haven’t seen anything like this on my many visits), but such decisive & immediate action is admirable & it shows the strength of Israeli democracy.
Grateful also for the Chief Rabbi’s sentiments. He clearly recognizes… https://t.co/jSNooQkrwd
— Rev. Johnnie Moore ن (@JohnnieM) June 5, 2023
On Thursday, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt welcomed Rabbi Amar’s statement, saying, “Jerusalem is a holy city for all the Abrahamic faiths and must be a city for all its people. Christians, Jews and Muslims alike should feel welcome in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land.”
“I concur with Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Shlomo Amar’s condemnation of the harassment of Christians and non-Jewish clergy by young Jews in the Old City,” she concluded.
Jerusalem is a holy city for all the Abrahamic faiths and must be a city for all its people. Christians, Jews and Muslims alike should feel welcome in Jerusalem and throughout the Holy Land.
I concur with Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem Rabbi Shlomo Amar’s condemnation of the… https://t.co/pGpjOin20o
— Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt (@StateSEAS) June 8, 2023
