By Lemor Abrams – CBS Sacramento
The Islamic Center of Davis in California is under fire after a translation of a sermon posted online said it called for the annihilation of Jews.
The Davis Imam’s 2-hour long sermon is mostly in Arabic. According to a translation from the Middle East Media Research Institute, Ammar Shahin calls for the annihilation of Jews, and asks his higher power to liberate the Al Asqa mosque from their filth.
He’s referring to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem where tensions are high after the Israeli government installed metal detectors when a terrorist shot and killed two Israeli soldiers earlier this month. In English, the Imam is clear- praying for a day of judgment between Muslims and Jews.
“He spelled out what he wishes for every Muslim who follows the Quran and the Hadith to follow what the Hadith says which is …find the Jews hiding behind trees and stones and kill them,” said Sorele Brownstein.
“To me, it’s clear this is direct incitement,” said Shmary Brownstein.
Rabbi Shmary Brownstein and his wife Sorele are the leaders of the Chabad in Davis. They say they’ve been on guard since the video was posted online. Their family is now being harassed by drivers passing by their home, which is also a house of worship.
Rabbi Mendy Cohen of Chabad in Sacramento worries it will escalate.
“This is what we suffered throughout the years. We’re not going to let Davis become like the neighborhoods in Paris where police can’t go,” said Cohen.
The Imam didn’t respond to our request for an interview. But the Islamic Center of Davis issued a statement maintaining the sermon was taken out of context.
Officials later issued an apology, saying in part:
“If the sermon was misconstrued, we sincerely apologize to anyone offended. We will continue our commitment to interfaith and community harmony.”
For now, the Jewish community of Davis- no stranger to hate crimes – is still trying to understand what to make of a local sermon now heard around the world.
A Davis police spokesman says the department has no comment. As for reports of harassment against the Jewish community, police say the matter is not under investigation.
This is not a funny matter or a time to make jokes whatsoever, this is very very very serious & for #3 to make these kinda jokes at this specific time when a nation is trying to eradicate & erase the Jewish ppl off the map, isn’t a time for silly stupid jokes, how can you say something like that when this Trash is openly inciting to kill Jews, #3 your not funny & to all the other comments who responded to him I can’t understand why no one told him off clearly that this is totally inappropriate, uncalled for… Read more »
Just to add a few words from the same sentence which maybe u forgot to say שלא אחד בלבד … אלא שבכל דור ודור, it’s very important bec we see this now, that not only 1 which was פרעה during the story of פסח but in every generation, during WW (World War) 2 it was hitler & the nazis Y”S (Yimach Shmam) & in this generation it’s the Arabs & the Muslims & we see this clearly from everything that’s going on in this specific news from Davis & in Eretz HaKodesh, we have to be strong & know that… Read more »
Yes, I was there תשנ”ז the 1st year that Shmary Brownstein was a Shliach there & he was truly an amazing a very very dedicated shliach, he truly cared for the Bachurim both HS (High School) & BM (Bais Medrash) Shmary you are a great man & your doing a wonderful job in Davis !! Keep up the Awesome work, through the כח that you have from the משלח כ”ק אדמו”ר נשיא דורנו we will over power & defeat those who seek to destroy us like it says in the הגדה והיא שעמדה לאבותינו שלא אחד בלבד עמד עלינו לכלותינו… Read more »
Shmary Brownstein was an excellent Shliach @ YOEC (Yeshivah Ohr Echonon Chabad) Los Angeles, years 5757 / 5758 (1997 & 1998) totally amazing Shliach I really had amazing years those years, I miss them so much thank u so much Shmary for being a Great Shliach & I wish you lots & lots & lots of success in your shlichus in Davis !! Keep up the Great work !!
Well that’s a very very very very big issue !! If this Big Trash is making incitement against Jews & calling to annihilate Jews, there is something very seriously disturbing here & it must be investigated by the local city police, if it has to go beyond that, then even more, but definitely the city police should be investigating immediately what’s going on here !! You can’t let things like this just go bye, this is very very very serious & must be dealt with right away without hesitation, this Trash should be arrested. The Jewish community should be heading… Read more »
Arabs need to stop thirsting for blood and learn to love… Arabs wake up! Stop killing yourselves and other people! You are a religion of falsehood and blind religion that only wants the worst for humankind! Moshiach now!
I’m pretty sure #3 was being sarcastic.
Hashem should wipe him off the face of the earth.
I’m fairly certain #3 was using dry humor, much like Mr. Samuel Clemens – whom you quoted directly without a citation. Tsk tsk.
And #7: crack a history book.
I think he was being sarcastic but ok
What planet are you on? You seem to be the one who is out in left field. This is daily fare in every city, not only in Europe but now all over North America – even in Davis – and all over the internet.
With daily “terrorist” attacks in North America, most of which go unreported or distorted (read: whitewashed) it’s no wonder that denial is not just a river in Egypt, but a growing disease especially in comfortable North America.
We should never give them a forum. Only gives them attention and empowers their horrific thirst to kill.
Islam has regressed to be worse than what Christianity was during the Middle Ages. Where was this Imam, or the rest of the world, when those two Druzim were murdered? I forgot…. Muslims hate the Druze almost as much as Jews!
is a protection for everyone including decent Muslims! The terrorists that do these acts don’t care about anyone’s life even their own! True madness, irresponsible speech as well!
I think NOT!
Der Aibishster zol up-hitten ALL YIDDEN everywhere!
UC Davis Mosque Imam speaking that way is a shock. Totally out of left field. Defies the imagination. Wow.
where are the community leaders who can insist on security…
the police are not too worried!
Every Mosque preaches this. The reason this guy got caught is because it was posted online.