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JERUSALEM — Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yisrael Lau on Sunday told pupils at the school that spawned the fan club for the man who murdered Yitzhak Rabin that admiring a person who shed blood was the antithesis of Judaism.

Until a few weeks ago, few Israelis had even heard of the Gruss Comprehensive State-Religious High School in Kiryat Gat. Then Channel 1 broadcast a report on three girls who said they admired Amir and were attracted to him.

In fact, the three girls involved were not there Sunday to hear Lau speak. The school's principal, Rahel Buhbut, said the two who actually attended the school had apparently been unable to stand the attention, and left the assembly before Lau arrived.

However, Lau said that the two had each sent him a long letter, expressing their contrition.

"To the degree that the letters were written from the heart, and I believe in their sincerity, then they have my forgiveness and, I hope, the forgiveness of the Creator," Lau said.

Speaking of the murder, Lau said that the prohibition against shedding blood predated the giving of the Torah, and was one of the seven Noahide laws. Lau said that while it was true that Amir, in an effort to justify his action, had said he was motivated by religious teachings, it was found that no such teaching existed.

The chief rabbi stressed the commandment to love one's fellow human being, even if he held different beliefs. One could talk, discuss and try to convince the other of one's views, he said, but never hate, call the other a traitor or depict him with a keffiyeh on his head or in Gestapo clothing, simply because one disagreed with him.