Goldknopf: “They Twisted My Words—My Comments Were Only About the Draft Law”

UTJ’s Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf issued a public clarification Sunday following uproar over remarks he made in an interview with Makor Rishon, claiming his statements had been taken out of context and misrepresented.

In the interview, published over the weekend, Goldknopf was asked about his view of the Religious Zionist sector. He responded, “Their pain will be with them, and our pain will be with us. Don’t bring me your pain and transfer it to me. Let’s decide that each one has their own package.”

After his words sparked widespread backlash, Goldknopf released a statement clarifying that his remarks referred only to the political debate surrounding the Draft Law—not to bereaved families, as some media outlets had claimed.

He denounced the media’s handling of the interview, stating, “The Makor Rishon newspaper shamed, saddened, incited conflict, polarized, and caused great anguish to the families of our holy fallen soldiers. It also greatly wronged me, but I am not the story here. The interview was solely about the Draft Law.”

Addressing bereaved families directly, he continued, “I apologize to the bereaved families. Your sons are the holiest. Your pain is the pain of all of us. I weep and mourn for every fallen soldier. Every fallen soldier is holy, no matter their background. Hashem yinkom damam.”