Communicated by the Chief Rabbinate Spokesman)
Chief Rabbis
David
Lau and
Yitzhak
Yosef, today (Friday, 18 September 2015), called on Islamic religious
leaders and the leaders of other religious communities in Israel to work
together in bringing about an immediate halt to the violence in Jerusalem and
its surrounding area and to prevent
riots
and violations of public order in the holy places, which are for prayer. The
chief rabbis note that it is the responsibility of religious leaders to create
an atmosphere that will forestall conflict and friction over the holy
places.
"We expect our friends, our partners in the council of religious
leaders in Israel, to condemn all those who desecrate the holy places and bring
into them weapons of various kinds, and to prevent such phenomena. Israel allows
freedom of worship for all faiths and respects their leaders. The holy places
are for prayer alone. In these days, of the start of the Jewish year, we pray
for a year of peace and coexistence for everyone in the world. May it be a year
of tolerance and moderation and may the words of the prophet Isaiah, 'Nation
shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war anymore' be
realized," the chief rabbis said.