While French authorities investigate what caused the 15 April fire that ravaged the famous Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, one rabbi has speculated that this tragedy might’ve been the work of the divine, the Haaretz newspaper reports.
"It is possible, after all. The first big Talmud burning was in Paris, there in the plaza of the Notre Dame Cathedral", the rabbi said.
Aviner also reportedly pointed out that while “there is no command to seek out Christian churches beyond Israel and burn them down. In our holy land, things are more complicated. Indeed the Rabbi of Satmar wrote that one of his reasons against immigration to Israel is that here the command to burn churches applies but it isn't exercised”.
News of the rabbi’s remarks elicited a negative response on social media, with a number of people appearing either offended or amused by his words.
I wonder if the respected rabbi would say that crystalnight was an act of god punishing Judaism!!!
— Thefacts (@Thetrut69257209) 17 апреля 2019 г.
Sometimes it's best to be quiet and not talk bull….t
— Giancarlo Del Grande (@delgrandegian) 17 апреля 2019 г.
#NotreDameCathedralFire is an #accident that can happen anywhere. #Turn it into a divine punishment! This is just a simplest #Israeli #Bigotry. So why shouldn’t Shoah be a divine calamity fallen on the blessed chosen of #God?🤨The fool has one great advantage over a man of sense; pic.twitter.com/pjmAbuVN16
— Moroccan Report (@MoroccanReport) 17 апреля 2019 г.
Perhaps Quasimodo is anti-Semitic.
— Marck (@mark_markat) 17 апреля 2019 г.
The devastating fire broke out at the Notre-Dame de Paris on Monday, causing the collapse of the cathedral's spire and two-thirds of its roof.
The blaze was fully extinguished by Tuesday morning, and the authorities have already started amassing funds for the cathedral’s restoration.
