JERUSALEM — Two senior ultra-Orthodox rabbis called on yeshiva students to avoid demonstrations following a mob attack earlier in the day on two female Israel Defense Forces servicewomen in Bnei Brak.

Rabbis Dov Lando and Moshe Hillel Hirsch, the leading spiritual authorities of the United Torah Judaism party’s Degel HaTorah faction, issued an open letter instructing students not to attend protests or confront police.

“It is strictly forbidden, under any circumstances, to participate in or be present among those who go to places where there are confrontations with the police,” the rabbis wrote. “One must remain in the yeshiva for studies and all scheduled sessions. Heaven forbid that anyone should be in those places… Aside from the physical danger, this constitutes a great desecration of God’s Name.”

The letter was released hours after a spokesman for Lando reissued a video in which the rabbi warned that those taking to the streets “are doing great harm.” The video was originally recorded following the death of a Haredi teenager during an anti-conscription protest in Jerusalem last month.