SECURITY ISSUE CITED

Chief rabbi barred from Russia

 

Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, at right, stands with
one of Ukraine´s chief Rabbis, Yakov Bleich, at
left, and NCSJ chairman Robert Meth during an
anti-Semitism conference in 2004.

AROUND THE JEWISH WORLD
Russia’s decision to keep rabbi out
for security reasons called ‘absurd’
JTA November 22, 2005

By LEV KRICHEVSKY

MOSCOW — Moscow’s chief rabbi will not be allowed to return to Russia for now, the country’s Internal Affairs Ministry has decided. The ministry’s decision, written earlier this month in a letter that surfaced only this week, said Pinchas Goldschmidt was being kept out of Russia for national security reasons.

The issue comes as Russia’s commitment to human rights increasingly is being questioned around the globe.

“Fortunately, the Jewish community has not been a target and has continued a supportive relationship with the Russian government, but when something like this happens, it makes people begin to wonder,” said Mark Levin, the executive director of NCSJ.