Sephardic Rabbis Condemn Rabbi Lando's Remarks Against Religious Zionists and IDF Soldiers

Rabbi Rafael Daloya, secretary of the Union of Western Sages in the Land of Israel and rabbi of the "Ohel Yitzhak" community in Har Bracha, issued a sharp letter condemning Rabbi Dov Lando, a leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community, for his recent statements against the religious-Zionist public and IDF soldiers. Daloya criticized Lando for calling IDF soldiers "murderers," stating this crosses from legitimate ideological disagreement into severe harm against the people of Israel, the state, and Torah values.

Daloya described Lando's remarks as causing "international desecration of God's name," arguing that such statements damage Israel's global image and provide ammunition to its harshest enemies. He questioned how hostile parties could be blamed for defaming Israel worldwide when the spiritual leader of ultra-Orthodox Judaism himself supplies them with such arguments.

The letter also criticized the ultra-Orthodox leadership for their silence, noting that a full day passed without any official public repudiation or demand for Rabbi Lando to retract his statements. Daloya concluded by calling for the emergence of leaders who will guide the ultra-Orthodox community with wisdom and national responsibility, working to heal divisions within the Jewish people through true Torah values and reverence for God.