Chief Rabbi of Israel Shlomo Amar
Photo: Yosef Avi Yair Angel
Peres: Rabbis must shun extremism
President, Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar agree to work together to settle rift over 'King's Torah'
President Shimon Peres and Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar met in Jerusalem on Wednesday to discuss the controversy surrounding the book "Kings Torah,"
and agreed to join forces "to preserve the rule of the law and protect the honor of the Torah."
"The rule of law is the foundation of our existence, and all are equal before the law," Peres stressed at the beginning of the meeting, which took place at the President's Residence.
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"The rabbis of Israel, as the public's spiritual leaders, have a great responsibility to protect these principles, and to avoid making extreme statements and commentaries that hurt the moral strength of Israeli people, state and Torah," Peres said.
Peres with Amar. (Photo: Yosef Avi Yair Angel)
Amar joined the president in urging the public to stay away from extremism.
"According to the Rambam (Maimonides), the appropriate way is the central way, which is the golden path," he said, and added that "Now more than ever, the rabbis and public leaders must be cautious with their words, in order to prevent the excited youth from following their orders by taking grave and extreme actions."
The meeting was held days after rabbis Dov Lior and Yaakov Yosef were questioned over their support of the book "King's Torah," which discusses the Jewish law's stance on killing non-Jews during wartime.
Rabbi Amar said during the gathering that a few months ago he offered the authorities and the rabbis involved to hold an informal hearing at his office about the affair, in order to prevent a confrontation between the two sides – but the discussion never took place.
Peres and Amar agreed to work together to settle the affair.
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