Rabbi Daniel Cohen, the rav of the Gush Etzion community of Bat Ayin sent a letter to residents in which he condemned the recent firebomb attack in which a number of Arabs were injured, one very seriously. Some youths of the community are suspect in the attack but their lawyer explains they are not guilty. Copies of the letter were distributed in the mailboxes of residents last week.

The letter states “Today our prayers are with our children, that the suspicions will be unfounded. Nevertheless, the link has Bat Ayin with intentional harm to people, bystanders, is a chilul Hashem and distances efforts towards shleimus of our people.”

For throwing a Molotov cocktail at an Arab car, the rabbis adds “such an act is a crime, and more importantly, moral decline towards the abyss that separates murder and self-defense, between war and terrorism, and building the country by all the people and chaos and chaos of every man for himself. This without any proof that the attackers is from among our midst, the mere allegations and arrest require us to self-examination. ”

The rav continues that “such acts are forbidden and obscene! They signal the confusion and lack of judgment.”

The rav called upon the youth of his kehila to join yeshivos and the IDF, seeking to provide them with direction. He calls upon them not to fall prey to bad influence but to “build yourselves with תורה ועבודה, build our land with mesirus nefesh and enter yeshiva and the IDF”.

Rabbi Cohen emphasized: “Remember that to protest the government’s distortions, but in a legal way. Dealing with our enemies should only include acceptable means.”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)