Israeli chief rabbis publish front page advert condemning violence

The Chief Rabbis of Israel have taken out a front page ad in the Jerusalem Post condemning the recent violence in Israel.

The advert, which condemns violence against both Jews and non-Jews, was also published in Hebrew in Israel’s other major papers.

The move comes after almost a week of unrest following Friday’s killing of a Palestinian child , and the fatal stabbing attack at Jerusalem’s Gay Pride .

The Chief Rabbis use the advert to call for peace and pray “for unity and harmony in our nation”.

It is highly unusual for the Chief Rabbis to make a public statement like this, with one Twitter user commenting: “I cannot recall the chief rabbis ever placing an ad in a major newspaper, let alone a massive one on the front page. This is a big deal.”

I cannot recall the chief rabbis ever placing an ad in a major newspaper, let alone a massive one on the front page. This is a big deal.

In the advert, the rabbinate says: “We condemn any act of violence whatsoever against any person who is created in the image of the Almighty, whether Jew or non-Jew, soldier or citizen. Violence is not the way of our holy Torah…With prayers for unity and harmony in our nation”.