Chabad Rov Faces Calls for Criminal Investigation Over Psak

An Israeli lawmaker from the left-wing “Democrats” party has called for a criminal investigation into Harav Gedalia Axelrod, a senior Chabad rov and former Av Beis Din of Chaifa, following a halachic ruling he issued concerning the formation of an Israeli government supported by Arab political parties.

MK Michal Rozin called on Thursday for authorities to investigate Harav Axelrod, accusing him of incitement to violence and racism over a letter he published earlier this week.

In the letter, Harav Axelrod warned against establishing a government with the participation or support of Arab parties, ruling that political leaders who facilitate such a government fall under the halachic category of din rodef, which refers to someone whose actions endanger the lives of others.

He further warned that lawmakers who allow such a government to be formed by abstaining from a vote would also bear responsibility for endangering Jewish lives.

Rozin responded on X, claiming that the rov’s statements crossed the line from religious expression into criminal incitement.

She drew comparisons to the period leading up to the 1995 assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, warning that similar rhetoric directed at political leaders had preceded acts of violence.

The controversy comes amid statements by Democrats chairman Yair Golan, who has advocated forming a government with the participation of Arab parties. Golan has also called for ending what he describes as a “racist separation” between Jewish and Arab votes when determining which political bloc can form a government.

Following the publication of Harav Axelrod’s letter, the Center for Victims of Racism filed an urgent complaint with Israel Police, the Attorney General, and the State Attorney’s Office, demanding an investigation into possible offenses of incitement to violence, solicitation of murder, and incitement to racism.

The calls for criminal proceedings against the 85-year-old veteran rov drew criticism from the Israeli civil rights organization B’Tsalmo.

Its director, Shai Glick, accused left-wing politicians and organizations of attempting to silence rabbonim through the threat of criminal prosecution.

“The Knesset has barely begun, and the silencing has already started,” Glick said.

He called on prosecutors to dismiss the complaint, arguing that rabbonim and public figures should not face criminal prosecution merely for expressing their religious and halachic positions.