Chief Rabbi David Yosef Sends Condolence Letter Praising Charlie Kirk As Friend Of The Jewish People

NOTE: The letter, written by Chief Rabbi Yosef on September 12, 2025, was mistakenly dated September 2 when shared online. His office told Lead Stories the incorrect date was a typing error and confirmed the letter was issued on September 12.

JERUSALEM — The Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, David Yosef, has sent a letter of condolence to the family of Charlie Kirk, describing the slain U.S. activist as “a true friend of the Jewish people and of the State of Israel” and calling his death “vile and cruel,” Jewish and Israeli media reported.

In the letter, Rabbi Yosef expressed “deep sorrow and great pain” upon learning of Kirk’s killing and praised what he called Kirk’s “great deeds and noble character,” saying the activist consistently “stood by truth and justice.” The rabbi addressed Kirk’s widow, Erika, and their children, offering comfort and invoking Kirk’s legacy as a source of consolation.

Rabbi Yosef also wrote that many in the Jewish world grieve with the family and remember Kirk for his support of Israel and his efforts to counter antisemitism. He concluded the message with a traditional blessing, writing, “May G-d grant you and your family the strength to overcome this great tragedy and to continue his legacy for future generations.” Copies of the letter were posted and circulated by Jewish community outlets and social media accounts.

The letter drew broad attention in Israeli and Jewish media, which noted the unusual step of a senior Israeli rabbinic figure publicly addressing the family of an American political activist. Coverage framed the letter as part of a wave of international condolences following Kirk’s death and as a reflection of the ties between some American conservative figures and pro-Israel constituencies abroad.

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot while speaking at a campus event in the United States. The killing prompted widespread mourning among his supporters and a flurry of international reaction, including statements from political and civic leaders. Israeli public figures and private citizens alike have posted tributes and messages of sympathy in the days since the attack.

For many in the Jewish and pro-Israel community, Rabbi Yosef’s letter was significant both for its tone and for its emphasis on Kirk’s support for Israel. Jewish organizations said the expression of solidarity underscores the bonds that some public figures in the United States and elsewhere have forged with Israeli and Jewish institutions. At the same time, commentators noted the sensitivity of public figures’ responses to violent events that are politically charged.

The chief rabbinate’s outreach came amid a wider international conversation about political violence, the safety of public figures, and the responsibilities of commentators and institutions in responding to such tragedies. Jewish communal leaders stressed that public mourning should not be a vehicle for further polarization, and they urged measured, fact-based responses as legal proceedings in the United States proceed.

Rabbi David Yosef, who holds the title Rishon LeZion as Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, is a prominent religious leader whose statements are closely followed in spiritual circles. His decision to send a formal letter of condolence to Kirk’s family was widely reported by Jewish news services and amplified in community social channels.

As legal authorities in the United States continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the Kirk family has received messages of support from a broad international array of political, religious, and civic leaders. Rabbi Yosef’s message is among a cluster of official and unofficial tributes that reflect the transatlantic character of contemporary Jewish communal life and of the networks connecting Israel and segments of the American conservative movement.

This article is based on verified information from Times of Israel, Israel National News, VINnews, JFeed, and Yeshiva World News.