Over 80 rabbis and left-leaning Orthodox leaders sign a statement critics say parrots Hamas’s starvation narrative, sparking outrage and accusations of moral blindness.
An international coalition of more than 80 rabbis and “rabbas” has ignited a firestorm by releasing a declaration that many argue echoes Hamas propaganda about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The document—grandly titled “A Call for Moral Clarity, Responsibility, and a Jewish Orthodox Response in the Face of the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis”—accuses Israel of fueling a humanitarian disaster while condemning Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria.
The initiative was spearheaded by Rabbi Yosef Blau, former president of the Religious Zionists of America and longtime spiritual advisor at Yeshiva University. He defended the move, insisting that “a non-critical loyalty is contradictory to the introspection fundamental to Judaism.”
Among the signatories:
- Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich of Poland
- Rabbi Michael Melchior, ex-MK for the left-wing Meimad party, who urged Israel to “flood Gaza with food and medicine”
- Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg, who declared: “The heart of Torah is justice, not revenge”
- Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, who said he was “proud to be associated with this call for moral clarity.”
The letter slams Prime Minister Netanyahu for lacking a post-war vision, and accuses “extremist settlers” of murder and violence in Judea and Samaria.
Critics, however, say the rabbis have been duped by Hamas’s propaganda campaign, which blames Israel for hunger in Gaza while concealing Hamas’s role in hoarding aid and exploiting civilians.
Even one signatory, Rabbi David Bigman, admitted the complexity:
“Some of the horrifying images are in fact fake… I signed because I agreed with the spirit of the words, but I knew the situation is extremely complex.”
Still, the controversy has laid bare a deep rift within the Orthodox world—between those demanding Israel maintain “moral clarity” and those warning that such declarations only embolden Hamas and demonize Israel.
