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Sephardic Rabbis Stand in Solidarity with Israel

Today and every day, we are proud to stand with Israel.
[additional-authors]
May 11, 2021
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As Israeli civilians are once again under rocket attacks from the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terror groups, we the undersigned, Sephardic rabbis representing communities all over the world, stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel.

We support Israel’s right to defend her cities and civilians, and to assert her sovereignty over Jerusalem, the historic and eternal capital of Israel.

We offer our love and prayers to the brave men and women of the Israel Defense Forces, the Israeli Police, Israel’s Home Front Command and Medical First Response units. May God strengthen and protect them as they protect Israel.

We condemn the violent ways of all terror groups attacking Israel, whose hypocrisy recalls the Biblical verse: “I am all peace, but when I speak, they are for war” (Psalms 120:7).

In the words of our great Sephardic sage Rabbi Bension Meir Hai Uziel, “we desire peace, but we will not go as sheep to the slaughter, rather we will defend ourselves with strength and courage in our historic homeland.”

Today and every day, we are proud to stand with Israel.

Rabbi Elie Abadie, Senior Rabbi, Jewish Council of the Emirates (United Arab Emirates)
Rabbi Ilan Acoca, Sephardic Congregation of Fort Lee (New Jersey)
Rabbi Marc Angel, Institute of Jewish Ideas and Ideals (New York)
Rabbi Haim Amsalem, Am Shalem/Zera Yisrael Foundation (Jerusalem, Israel)
Rabbi Yaakob Levy Aserraf, Communidad Israelita de Cueta (Spain)
Rabbi Eitan Bendavid, Kehillat Shivtei Yisrael (Ra’anana, Israel)
Rabbi Moshe Benzaquen, West Coast Torah Center (Los Angeles)
Rabbi Simon Benzaquen, Congregation Ezra Bessaroth (Seattle, Washington)
Rabbi Daniel Bouskila, Sephardic Educational Center (Los Angeles/Jerusalem)
Rabbi Nissim Elnecavé, Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America (New York)
Rabbi Albert Gabbai, Congregation Mikveh Israel (Philadelphia)
Rabbi Baruj Garzon, Kehillat Yagdil Torah (Ra’anana, Israel)
Rabbi Yonatan Halevy, Shiviti/Kehillat Shaar HaShamayim (San Diego)
Rabbi Yaacov Betzalel Harrar, Kehillat Shuva (Ra’anana)
Rabbi Ben Hassan, Sephardic Bikur Holim Congregation (Seattle, Washington)
Rabbi Daniel Kahana, (Brooklyn, New York)
Rabbi Dr. Abraham Levy, Spanish & Portuguese Community (London)
Rabbi Mordejai Maarabi, Kehillat Torah ve’Jaim (Ra’anana, Israel)
Rabbi Mimon Mamane, Congregation Magen David of Manhattan (New York)
Rabbi Raif Melhado, Americans4Israel (Los Angeles)
Rabbi Moshe Nahon, Kahal Kadosh Abudarham Synagogue (Gibraltar)
Rabbi Abraham Tobal, Monte Sinai Community (Mexico City)
Rabbi Devin Maimon Villareal, Kehillat Sha’ar Tsafon (Pocatello, Idaho)
Rabbi Ariel Yeshurun, Skylake Synagogue (Miami)

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