In an interview with Kikar Hashabbat, Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau on Tuesday condemned those who attack or humiliate IDF soldiers.
"The Ninth of Av is the day our Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed," Rabbi Lau said. "The first Temple was destroyed because we distanced ourselves from the Creator of the world. The second Temple was destroyed because we distanced ourselves from each other, because of baseless hatred. Because we saw the humiliation of someone who came to a meal - scholars saw it and remained silent - and no one said a word."
"Today we are trying to fix that. Certainly, we will not repeat the sins we did previously. We stand here, trying to increase love and friendship.
"All of these actions towards IDF soldiers, towards those who chose a different path than the ones who scream at them - no one has the right to scream at soldiers or to hurt them, their wives, their children, or their families.
"Such actions are severe and require all of us to stand and say together, 'This is not the Torah's way!' We are permitted - we must - speak to each other, not yell at each other."
Before Purim, haredi extremists hung an effigy of an IDF soldier, and in April, a kippah-wearing soldier was attacked by haredi extremists. At the beginning of June, policemen dressed as IDF soldiers were violently attacked while walking in the ultra-haredi Mea Shearim neighborhood, and later that month the soldier son of a former MK was attacked while attempting to buy a Torah book in the same neighborhood.
"With baseless love, we will soon merit to see the Third Temple," Rabbi Lau said.