The Rabbinical of America and the Orthodox Union join the Chief Rabbinate of Israel in condemning the torching of the Ya’ar Ramot Synagogue in Jerusalem on June 25.

Once again we have witnessed violence perpetrated as a means of showing disagreement and disapproval of another’s religious expression. While legitimate dissent is the right of each and every person, unlawful behavior, the defacing of a synagogue as well as the possible desecration of sacred objects such as Torah’s and religious texts are not modes of behavior of Jewish expression and historically have been employed by anti-Semites and the enemies of our people.

Violence and hate do not bring people closer to our Torah way of life, they simply cause a Chilul Hashem, a desecration of G-d’s name. The Torah’s ways are ways of pleasantness and decency, not violence and destruction.