An extremely rare incident occurred on Thursday when the recent statements of HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein in his weekly shiur were distorted on Arab social media, sparking outrage in Egypt and leading to the publication of a clarification of the Rosh Yeshivah’s words in Arabic and English.
HaRav Edelstein was reported as saying that Egypt stands at the forefront of the nations that hate the Jews and we must eliminate all of Israel’s enemies.
Kan News reported that an Egyptian website affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood reported the Rosh Yeshivah as saying: “All the nations hate us, especially Egypt. The Israeli chacham fiercely attacks the Arabs and Egyptians and demands an end to all enemies of Israel.”
In response, an Egyptian journalist told a Russian news channel that HaRav Edelstein is a respected cleric and this statement carries a large amount of hatred and incitement. He added that these statements ignore the reasons for hatred that are not aimed at Jews but at those “who conquered the land, desecrate the holy places of Islam and Christianity, and practice racism against the Arabs to the point of murdering them in cold blood in front of their own families.”
The Egyptians turned to President Isaac Herzog for clarification on the matter. Shortly later, a clarification was issued from the home of HaRav Edelstein, emphasizing that the Rosh Yeshivah’s words were taken out of context. The Kan report said that security officials were involved in issuing the clarification in Arabic.
“In the last few hours, words of HaRav Edelstein have been circulated in the Arab media as if Egypt is behind the terrorism against Israel and that we must pray to eliminate it,” the statement from the Rosh Yeshivah’s home stated. “These statements were distorted from the Rabbi’s original words who pointed out that Egypt maintains peaceful relations with Israel. It is a shame that there are those who use the Rabbi’s words for incitement and lies.”
הרב גרשון אדלשטיין, מנהיג הציבור הליטאי חרדי, מעורר זעם במצרים בעקבות הצהרות שיוחסו לו בשעות האחרונות ברשתות החברתיות הערביות, לפיהן מצרים עומדת בראש האומות ששונאות את היהודים ויש לשים קץ לכל אויבי ישראל, דברים שהוצאו מהקשרם. בבית הרב הוציאו הבהרה בערבית ובאנגלית @AkivaWeisz pic.twitter.com/2l5FexTrpy
— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) May 11, 2023
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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17 Responses
In response, an Egyptian journalist told a Russian news channel that HaRav Edelstein is a respected cleric and this statement carries a large amount of hatred and incitement. He added that these statements ignore the reasons for hatred that are not aimed at Jews but at those “who conquered the land, desecrate the holy places of Islam and Christianity, and practice racism against the Arabs to the point of murdering them in cold blood in front of their own families.”
Doesn’t this prove his point?
So what did he really say, what was the context that is was taken out of?
I don’t understand
In Egypt they have muftis that say those things about us and even worse and they don’t make a clarification
YWN why didn’t you include the Rav’s English clarification in the article or at least a link to it?
What kind of reporting is this? What did he REALLY say? These half baked articles are infuriating
We got the hundred year old rabbi to talk on television to all the kids in Egypt
Rav Gershon actually said (writing from memory) “we are living in nes…. surrounded by enemires who hate us… yes, there is Egypt, nu …. and a new needs zchusim etc.” I think it was clear to most yeshiva leit that he meant that we are surrounded by enemies, although Egypt is an exception.
as long as Egypt is Islamic it will always be an enemy of Israel
thank you mod
Baby squirrel,
Is the UAE Islamic?
What did the rabbi said?
חכמים הזהרו בדבריכם
Commenting to *
Not sure what you mean but to us “100 yr old Rabbi” is one very special and esteemed person
Your comment definitely did not sound like that but if I misunderstood then my apologies
Forbidden to say the truth
@lebidik yankel: Thank you for sharing the actual words of the Rosh Yeshiva because in YWN’s original article linked above, YWN wrote the translation in a way that actually lends itself to the erroneous interpretation without the important nuances you mentioned (yes, there is Egypt, nu…): YWN translated:
“Even in Eretz Yisrael, we’re surrounded by enemies from all sides,” the Rosh Yeshivah said. “The sea is on one side and here and here and here, all around – all the nations hate us – Egypt.” Perhaps YWN’s translation was actually what brought the miss understanding!!!
YWN be more careful next time.
“He added that these statements ignore the reasons for hatred that are not aimed at Jews but at those “who conquered the land, desecrate the holy places of Islam and Christianity, and practice racism against the Arabs to the point of murdering them in cold blood in front of their own families.””
Note the distinction made between Judaism and, liHavdil, its idolatrous imposter attempted successor: Zionism.
Israel biggest ennemies are in the USA and EU, nazis use to send a lot of books praising to kill jews and this propaganda is still in the head of these ignorants arabs around Israel. Why are you so affraid to expose what role Americans are having into this hatred toward Jews? United Nazi-ons / disunited Jews.