Rabbi Steven Burg condemns El-Sayed’s response to the Temple Israel attack

Steven BurgCEO of Aish

Aish CEO Rabbi Steven Burg criticized Abdul El-Sayed's response to the Temple Israel attack as inadequate, saying El-Sayed could not fully condemn it and was 'explaining away the terrorists.'

“El-Sayed couldn't even fully condemn it... He was kind of explaining away the terrorists. Everything we see from him just breeds evil and hate.”

Reporting

Open source (opens in a new tab)Rabbi Burg on Newsmax: El-Sayed response to Temple Israel attack
Abdul El-Sayed testifying at a United States Senate committee hearing in 2024

Where this statement fits

Abdul El-Sayed's cycle of violence framing after the Temple Israel attack

After an armed assailant attacked Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan, U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed condemned the attack and antisemitism but connected the assailant's actions to an Israeli airstrike that killed members of his family, describing violence as a cycle. Critics said the framing rationalized an antisemitic terrorist attack or shifted responsibility toward Israel and Jews. El-Sayed denied justifying the attack and later apologized for introducing context when the victims needed an unqualified condemnation.

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Source and context

Reporting

Rabbi Burg on Newsmax: El-Sayed response to Temple Israel attack (opens in a new tab)

About this source

Newsmax 'National Report' interview in which Aish CEO Rabbi Steven Burg criticized Abdul El-Sayed's response to the Temple Israel attack.

Before the quotation

Speaking on Newsmax's 'National Report' about Abdul El-Sayed's response to the Temple Israel attack.

After the quotation

A related written op-ed by Burg ran on JNS.org on September 14, 2026.

How this statement is classified

Condemned

The label describes this statement's response within the context above.

Why this label?

Burg directly condemns El-Sayed's response to the Temple Israel attack as inadequate and as effectively explaining away the attackers, extending the case's existing criticism from a new named religious leader.

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People and groups discussed
Abdul El-Sayed

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The Dispute Index
Title
Rabbi Steven Burg condemns El-Sayed’s response to the Temple Israel attack
First published
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https://disputeindex.com/events/780-aish-ceo-rabbi-steven-burg-criticized-abdul-el

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The Dispute Index. "Rabbi Steven Burg condemns El-Sayed’s response to the Temple Israel attack". First published: 2026-09-17. Last updated: 2026-09-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/780-aish-ceo-rabbi-steven-burg-criticized-abdul-el