CJV Slams Progressive “Open Orthodox” Rabbis for Accusing Israel of Starving Gaza

LONG ISLAND, NY  (VINnews)-Alan Skorski recently sat down with Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Executive VP of the Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), to discuss a controversial letter signed by 80 rabbis — mostly aligned with “open Orthodoxy” and progressive causes — that accused Israel of moral failings in its war against Hamas.

The letter, titled “A Call for Moral Clarity, Responsibility, and a Jewish Orthodox Response in the Face of the Gaza Humanitarian Crisis,” alleged that Israel bore partial responsibility for starvation in Gaza, citing reports that the Jewish state was “withholding food and aid.”

“Hamas’s sins and crimes do not relieve the government of Israel of its obligations to make whatever efforts are necessary to prevent mass starvation,” the signatories wrote. They further claimed that anger toward Hamas had “expanded by some extremists into blanket suspicion of the entire population of Gaza — children included,” and also accused Israeli “settler violence” of destabilizing the region.

The letter insisted that “Orthodox Jewry… bears a unique moral responsibility” and preached that “Judaism’s vision of justice and compassion extends to all human beings.”

CJV’s Strong Rebuke

In response, the Coalition for Jewish Values published a counter-letter, signed by more than 160 rabbis, which directly refuted the accusations. Rabbi Menken noted that many of the original signatories were not even pulpit rabbis, and that most represent “open Orthodoxy,” a movement he stressed “is not in compliance with Torah Judaism.”

The CJV response stated:

“Responsibility for Suffering in Gaza assigns partial responsibility for the suffering of Gaza’s civilians to Israel. This is false; the one and only source of Gaza’s ongoing tragedy is Hamas. To state otherwise is to grant unintended support to antisemitic inversions of this obvious truth.”

The letter emphasized that Israel did not choose this war and that “Hamas — and only Hamas — bears full and exclusive responsibility for the ongoing suffering of Gaza’s population.”

Rabbi Menken highlighted Israel’s consistent efforts to transfer food, medicine, and aid into Gaza despite being under fire, pointing out that shortages occur only because Hamas seizes supplies for its fighters.

“Casting Israel as the source of starvation echoes Hamas’s false narrative and undermines Israel’s just conduct under fire,” the CJV letter warned.

Addressing the moral arguments made by the progressive rabbis, Rabbi Menken stressed that Judaism prioritizes the protection of life — beginning with one’s own. He cited Deuteronomy 4:15, Venishmartem me’od lenafshoseichem (“you shall profoundly guard your life”), and Deuteronomy 13:16, Uvi’arta hara mikirbecha (“you shall eradicate evil from your midst”).

Quoting the Medrash Tanchuma (Metzora), Rabbi Menken added:

“Whoever is kind to the cruel will end up being cruel to the kind.”

With over twice the number of rabbis signing in support, the CJV’s response underscored that mainstream Torah leadership rejects the accusations against Israel and stands firmly with the Jewish state in its war against Hamas.