Senior Sefardi haredi Rabbi Shalom has clarified his remarks, made last night, that Zionist Orthodox Jews are Amalek, the biblical archenemy of the Jewish people, and that God's holy throne will not be complete until they no longer exist. Don't worry, Cohen clarified, I just mean their leaders of the Zionist Orthodox HaBayit HaYehudi Party and their followers.
Only Zionist Orthodox Political Leaders And Their Followers Are "Amalek," Sefardi Haredi Rabbi 'Clarifies'
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
Ynet reports that after Rabbi Shalom Cohen's horrific remarks last night – made as Sefardi haredi leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef sat next to him (Yosef did nothing to distance himself from those remarks and his did not criticize Cohen for making them) – Cohen responded to pressure to apologize by instead clarifying his remarks.
“The Throne [of God] is not complete as long as there are Amalek…when will the Throne [of God] be complete? When there are no more [Zionist Orthodox Jews],” Cohen said.
Cohen reportedly repeatedly made the remark during his speech and proudly noted that he had said the same thing to leading Zionist Orthodox "Rabbi [Haim] Druckman and all the Amalek.”
According to haredi and Orthodox Jewish law and thought, Amalek, the biblical archenemy of the Jewish people, must be wiped out by the Jews. Indeed, the Torah itself commands this.
Today, Cohen said his remarks were made "with great pain" and were only referring to "the leaders and supporters of Habayit Hayehudi party, who have sanctified war in a world of Torah and yeshiva."
The rest of the Zionist Orthodox Jews who vote for other political parties were, Cohen said, not included.
The HaBayit HaYehudi Party won 12 seats in January's election and is part of the governing coalition.
Related Post: Senior Sefardi Haredi Rabbi Calls Zionist Orthodox Jews “Amalek,” Intimates They Should be Wiped Out.