Rabbi David Stav Urges Haredi Leaders to Condemn Protest Violence

Ahead of a new wave of protests and expected extremist demonstrations on Wednesday, Rabbi David Stav, chairman of the Tzohar rabbinical organization, issued a sharp warning to Haredi leaders. In an interview on Meshav, a Tzohar channel, he said their silence about road blockages and the attack near Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg’s home amounts to tacit support for the violence.

Stav criticized what he called weak and “muddled” condemnations, and said he expects Haredi rabbinic authorities to denounce the rioters with the same moral force they would use against religious violations such as desecrating Shabbat, eating pork, or breaches of modesty or kashrut. He said most of the Haredi public does not support these actions, but wants to hear that position stated clearly and authoritatively.

According to Stav, the current silence can be understood in two troubling ways: either as agreement with the attacks, or as evidence that even prominent rabbis are afraid of the extremists. He said the lack of response stains the entire community and gives the violence momentum.

He ended by urging Haredi leaders to take responsibility, not fear the radicals, and stop the disorder before it worsens. “The Torah commands us, the rabbis and judges, not to fear anyone,” he said. “Our duty as public leaders is to say: ‘No, our hands did not shed this blood.’ Please, raise your voices loudly, and say, ‘No, this is not our way.’”