Jerusalem, December 23, 2004...During a meeting today in Jerusalem between the Chief Rabbis of Israel and a visiting delegation of the Anti-Defamation League headed by ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman, the Israeli Chief Rabbis called for unity within the Jewish nation to prevent internal war which, they said, is a grave danger to the Jewish nation.


The Chief Rabbis told the members of ADL that they intend to raise the issue of disobedience within the Israel Defense Forces at the next Chief Rabbinic Council.  The Sephardi Chief Rabbi, Shlomo Amar, noted to the ADL members that the Chief Rabbinate does not take a stand on the issue of the disengagement since there are disagreements whether the political act will contribute to Israel's defense or not.

The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, Yona Metzger, said he hopes that with the help of G-d the new unity government in Israel will lead to unity in the Jewish nation. The Israeli Chief Rabbis called for unity in the Jewish nation since there is no more danger to the Jewish people than a split within it.  The members of ADL strengthened the Israeli Chief Rabbis statement and noted that it is important, particularly these days, that the voices of the Chief Rabbis be heard as the Jewish Halachic authority.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.