The Rabbinic Congress for Peace Urges Rabbis Worldwide: “Raise Your Voices Against the Deal!”
At an emergency meeting of the Rabbinical Congress for Peace (RCP), which includes about 400 rabbis across Israel, Congress leaders called upon all rabbis, both in Israel and abroad, to take urgent action to prevent the impending hostage deal, which they have described as a “second disengagement disaster.”
In a special statement, Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, Chairman of the Congress and Chief Rabbi of Central Tel Aviv, emphasized:
“Our hearts and thoughts are always with the families of the hostages. It is heart-wrenching and deeply painful to witness our precious brothers and sisters enduring the unspeakable anguish of captivity. There is no doubt that we must do everything possible to secure their release without delay. This is a matter of saving lives and upholding the eternal Jewish principle of mutual responsibility.
“However, this is not how lives are saved; it is how lives are endangered! Not just dozens or hundreds, but the lives of millions of Jews!
“Master of the World! How much longer can we persist in this disastrous blindness? How did we reach the point where Hamas massacred a thousand Jews in just a few hours, and still holds hundreds of Jews hostage? This tragedy stems directly from policies implemented by the Israeli government in the past—prisoner exchanges and the withdrawal of the IDF from Gaza.
“The Torah clearly dictates (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 329) that Israel must conquer and maintain control over all the territories surrounding it to ensure its security. Any discussion of an IDF withdrawal poses an immediate danger to all our lives. Israeli rabbis must continue to cry out, plead, demand, and raise the alarm on this matter, as halacha (Jewish Law) compels us to do.”
Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Lewin, Secretary-General of the Congress, expressed deep pain and shock at the conduct of certain Ultra-Orthodox political parties regarding this critical issue:
“We see that even many members of the Knesset and ministers from the Likud party, who are not Torah observant, have strongly opposed this disastrous deal, which could lead to devastating consequences for the Jewish people, God forbid. Members of other right-wing parties have similarly voiced their objections. Yet, paradoxically, those parties that claim to represent Jewish law and its meticulous observance shamelessly declare their support for any deal brought to the table!
“Which rabbis authorized you to endanger the lives of hundreds of thousands of Jewish men, women, and children? Whom did you consult? How could you dare defy the Torah’s clear rulings? You have become a source of embarrassment and disgrace to every Jew who cherishes the word of God!”
The rabbis call on all community leaders and spiritual figures: “This is not a time for silence! Raise your voices and cry out against this deal that endangers the Jewish people. Only full control of Gaza by the IDF, executed with strength and determination, will bring an end to the conflict, ensure the safe return of all hostages, destroy the terrorist organizations, and guarantee real security for all residents of the Holy Land.”