Disclaimer: the views expressed here are solely those of the author, weekly Judean Rose columnist Varda Meyers Epstein.
When more than 80 self-described Modern Orthodox rabbis
signed a public letter
accusing Israel of failing to prevent starvation in Gaza, the result was not
“moral clarity,” as the document’s title claimed. Instead, it provided a
dangerous boost to Hamas propaganda at a time of unprecedented hostility toward
the Jewish state.
The statement, “A Call for Moral Clarity, Responsibility, and a Jewish Orthodox Response in the Face of the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis,” insists that while Hamas is guilty of heinous crimes, Israel bears responsibility for preventing hunger in Gaza. Cloaked in the language of compassion, the letter distorts reality, undermines Israel, and arms its enemies with new talking points.
Jewish law holds leaders to the highest standards of truth
in speech. Yet this letter repeats claims that collapse under scrutiny. Though it
does not have to, since May, Israel has facilitated the entry of nearly 183,000 tons
of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United Nations, by contrast, reports just 67,000
tons—a discrepancy of more than 115,000 tons. The explanation is simple: Hamas
steals, hoards, and diverts supplies, while the UN amplifies those manipulated
figures. In fact, since the start of the war, Israel has facilitated the entry
into Gaza of almost 2 million tons
of aid.
Instead of consulting Israel’s Coordination of Government
Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which publishes daily data on aid deliveries, the
signatories embraced Hamas-tainted statistics and then presented them as an
Orthodox moral imperative. This feels more like moral confusion and
cluelessness than moral clarity.
Aid entry data is published regularly on a dedicated website.
— COGAT (@cogatonline) August 19, 2025
It provides a daily breakdown of the number of trucks entering Gaza, categorized by crossing point and type of goods.
The data presented on the site reflects the full and accurate picture of the aid that Israel… pic.twitter.com/UwGattKdbK
The harm goes far beyond numbers. Anti-Israel media outlets
in Turkey
and the Arab world immediately broadcast the rabbis’ statement as proof that
even Orthodox leaders accuse Israel of starving Gaza. The familiar weapon of
“even Jews say” has now been upgraded: even Orthodox rabbis say.
Such messaging hands Hamas and its allies exactly what they
need—Jewish voices validating their narrative—while antisemitism continues to
surge globally.
Those who hold the title of rabbi carry an obligation to
weigh the impact of their words. Their statements reverberate far beyond their
intended audience, particularly in times of war and rising antisemitism. To
sign one’s name to a letter that repeats propaganda is not an act of conscience
but a failure of responsibility.
Rabbis are expected to serve as witnesses for the Jewish
people, not to echo the accusations of those who seek the destruction of the
Jewish state. At a minimum, Jewish leaders must confirm the facts before
attaching their authority to public pronouncements.
The rabbis who signed this letter may not intend to harm
Israel. But intentions do not negate consequences. By repeating distorted figures
and equating Israel with Hamas, they have lent credibility to falsehoods that
endanger Jews everywhere.
This is not moral clarity, nor is it an Orthodox response. It is, at best, naïve—and at worst, a dangerous gift to Israel’s enemies.
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