Israel’s Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi Kalman Ber has issued a powerful and unprecedented call for immediate international intervention to stop the “horrific massacre” and “ethnic cleansing” of the Druze community in Syria, emphasizing that the world cannot remain silent.
In a fervent letter published Thursday morning, Rabbi Kalman Ber condemned the “shocking images that horrify every soul” emerging from Syria, depicting “a cruel killing spree against the Druze people, and severe assaults on the sanctity of human life.” He asserted that “these are actions that we, and all religious leaders around the world, cannot stand by and ignore.”
Rabbi Ber drew a stark parallel to historical atrocities, stating, “We have seen how predatory animals, in a fit of rage, attack innocent civilians without distinguishing between man and woman, between the elderly and children. We are reminded of the dark days of history when bloodthirsty nations carried out similar actions, and the world was silent and kept its peace!”
He stressed that the “Divine commandment ‘Do not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor’ obligates us to raise a cry and awaken the entire world against the severe harm and ethnic cleansing that is taking place at this moment against the Druze community on the Druze mountain in Syria.”
Highlighting the deep ties between the communities, Rabbi Ber added, “We must also remember that some members of the [Druze] community and their relatives live among us and are bound to us by a covenant of blood, for the sake of the State of Israel’s existence.”
Concluding his urgent appeal, Rabbi Ber declared, “Indifference at this fateful hour is a disaster. I appeal with a pained heart to all who can prevent the continuation of the killing and destruction, as well as to the leaders of the free world, to join this call and immediately stop these heinous actions.” His statement comes amidst heightened tensions and reports of widespread casualties in the Druze-majority Suwayda province, with Israel already undertaking military action and expressing commitment to protecting the Druze community.
