"Hearts Empty of Torah": Rabbi Shlomo Machpud Slams Bnei Brak Rioters
Senior Shas Rabbi Shlomo Machpud has issued a stinging condemnation of the Bnei Brak riots, calling the protesters "empty of Torah" while simultaneously blasting the police for "igniting" the fire with excessive force
Rabbi Shlomo Machpud, a senior member of the Shas party's Council of Torah Sages, issued an unprecedented letter today condemning the "shocking scenes" that unfolded in the streets of Bnei Brak yesterday. The Rabbi, who was personally caught in the center of the unrest on Chagi Street, directed sharp criticism toward those he described as "lawbreakers" acting under the guise of religious zealotry.
In his letter, Rabbi Machpud expressed deep shock at the behavior of the protesters who attacked female IDF soldiers and destroyed property.
The Rabbi accused the rioters of "wearing a cloak of zealotry while having hearts empty of Torah and morality." He slammed the audacity of those who "destroyed the property of both the public and individuals."
While the Rabbi was firm in his condemnation of the violence, he did not spare the Israel Police. He argued that the heavy-handedness of the security forces served as "fuel for the fire."
Rabbi Machpud stated that the police "did not act wisely" and instead became "the igniters" of further conflict through their harsh treatment of the city's residents. He criticized the "harsh behavior and punishment" directed toward tens of thousands of residents who were not involved in the violence.
The letter comes in the wake of a mob attack on two female IDF commanders who were in Bnei Brak to conduct a routine pre-enlistment home visit. The incident sparked hours of rioting, involving mounted police and the use of force to disperse crowds. Notably, the Rabbi’s letter was published alongside reports that a high-profile engagement between descendants of major Rabbinic figures took place on the very same street while the riots raged outside.
When one of the most respected sages in the Haredi world calls your zealotry "empty of Torah," the spiritual foundation of the protest begins to crumble. Rabbi Machpud’s letter makes it clear: in the battle for Bnei Brak’s soul, there are no winners, only a city caught between the violence of the few and the "unwise" iron fist of the law.