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Moscow, Russia - Chief Rabbi: Living in Israel is Difficult for an Observant Jew |
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In a interview he explains that it is connected with great difficulties a Jew faces in Israel if he wants to observe traditions.
“Not long ago a man asked me to repatriate or not, and I told him that it is more important to preserve ourselves as Jews than to stick to original area of living. I advised him to base his decision on this argument and he stayed in Russia,” the Rabbi said.
He thanked Russian authorities for their good attitude to the followers of the Jewish tradition. “Since the USSR collapsed, the attitude to Jews has improved,” Lazar said.
He believes, “Vladimir Putin initiated real changes.”
“He made a revolution in everything referring to Jewish education, in particular, he instructed to equal yeshiva to a higher educational establishment,” the Rabbi said.
Speaking about negative image Israeli society has about repatriates from the former USSR, he stated that it was mostly formed by “non-Jews who have recently come to Israel.” “Non-Jews who constitute at least 40 per cent of repatriates commit the majority of bad deeds, which formed such a negative impression about “Russians,” Lazar believes.
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Read Comments (26) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:00 AM Anonymous Says:
Wow! A rabbi who has the nerve to be honest!
Kudos to the honest rabbi.
2
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:52 AM MARK Says:
SO SAD FOR HIM TO SAY THAT,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,AM YISROEAL CHAI
3
Oct 05, 2008 at 11:00 AM robroy560 Says:
This is avery interesting comment and will probably be taken out of context. I think the rabbi was referring to Russians who make aliyah. I know 100% Jewish Russsians, and many have lived in Israel at one point or another and all have family there. They vary in their level of observances, but they are all Jewish.
They always resented the types who used "my great-grandmother was Jewish" to escape Mother Russia. They used to say that these "prized immigrants" helped defile the land with prostitution, treif, drugs, etc. Of course, they didn't excuse the secular Israelis from that either. But the negative views of that made it hard for traditional or frum Russians to get by. They were extremely offended, especially since their families did their best to keep yiddishkeit alive, as best as they could, behind the iron curtain.
4
Oct 05, 2008 at 12:11 PM Anonymous Says:
Hmm, how much did Putin pay for that statement?
5
Oct 05, 2008 at 01:33 PM Russki Says:
Of course, Zionist state is no friend of Yidden. However, it is also important that these words come from a person who is:
1) An am-ho-oretz who was annointed to his position of Rav-me-taam (A kazenner sheigetz, as Russian Jews used to call such people) by a former KGB officer Mr. Putin. Frume Yidden have different way of nominating rabbis.
2) Operating so-called "Jewish schools" which openly accept Goim Gmurim as students to inflate the number of pupils to satisfy the ego of Mechalel Shabbos and grave-digger Lev Leviev;
3) Has created MANY tzoros and mesiros for other Jewish communities in Russia;
4) Is operating a restaurant with mixed dancing right on the first floor of the main Chabazzker community center and synagogue (this is just one example of frumkeit level in his "kehilo");
5) Who, after all, is promoting his Dead-Messianic cult as an only proper form of Judaism in front of millions of Goyim
And so on and so forth...
Including that for 90% of Russian Jews INTERESTED IN YIDDISHKEIT , to reccomend staying in Russia over moving to a country with a large Frum community (yes, including Eretz Yisroel) is plain Shfichas Domim.
6
Oct 05, 2008 at 01:52 PM Emes Says:
“ Of course, Zionist state is no friend of Yidden. However, it is also important that these words come from a person who is:
1) An am-ho-oretz who was annointed to his position of Rav-me-taam (A kazenner sheigetz, as Russian Jews used to call such people) by a former KGB officer Mr. Putin. Frume Yidden have different way of nominating rabbis.
2) Operating so-called "Jewish schools" which openly accept Goim Gmurim as students to inflate the number of pupils to satisfy the ego of Mechalel Shabbos and grave-digger Lev Leviev;
3) Has created MANY tzoros and mesiros for other Jewish communities in Russia;
4) Is operating a restaurant with mixed dancing right on the first floor of the main Chabazzker community center and synagogue (this is just one example of frumkeit level in his "kehilo");
5) Who, after all, is promoting his Dead-Messianic cult as an only proper form of Judaism in front of millions of Goyim
And so on and so forth...
Including that for 90% of Russian Jews INTERESTED IN YIDDISHKEIT , to reccomend staying in Russia over moving to a country with a large Frum community (yes, including Eretz Yisroel) is plain Shfichas Domim. ”
Name calling, howling at the moon, and hate filled saliva drooling over fictious claims are all part of Russki's anti-Chabad propoganda without any basis in reality.
Yeshivas, Talmud Torahs, shchitas, mikvos and flourishing shuls are spread throughout the former Soviet Union all as a direct result of Rabbi Lazar and the Chabad, not to mention the millions of dollars from Lev Leviev.
I ask you, Russki, what if anything have YOU done for klal Yisroel???
7
Oct 05, 2008 at 02:38 PM Russki Says:
Dear Emes#6,
Since you seem to be very familiar with realities of Jewish communal life in former USSR, would you please care to refute my fictious claims point-by-point. Would you provide some evidence that:
1) a)Berl Lazar is indeed a talmid-chochom (references to his SHuT’s etc.)
b) Mr. Putin did not play an overwhelming role in recognizing him as an only rabbi representing all of Russia’s Jewish communities
2)a)Moysdoys Ohr Avner do not accept student whose mothers are not Jewish
b) Business which are KNOWN to be owned by Lev Leviev are closed on Shabbos
c) Leviev-owned company Derech Eretz did not intentionally desecrate Jewish graves while
building Highway 6 in Eretz Yisroel
3) Rabbi Goldshmidt and Rabbi Karpov had not had any tzoros from FEOR (Yes, this is an official name of Lazar’s organization, which they made up themselves. May I refer to Lazar as Baal FEOR?)
4) If you are in Moscow, you can still get to the restaurant at the JCC in Maryina Roscha before closing time and let everyone know that you have not seen any mixed dancing
4) That Lazar constantly says that Chabad-Lubavich is just one of many Jewis kehilos, not even the biggest, and that he dissociates himself from Meshichisten
I would be very glad to hear from you
8
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:02 PM Emes Says:
To Russki,
Your silliness becomes more evident with your last posting. You called a Rov an am-ho'oretz, and then follow up with: "Would you provide some evidence that:
1) a)Berl Lazar is indeed a talmid-chochom (references to his SHuT’s etc.)"
I guess in your mind, any Rov who hasn't published a sefer of chidushim or T'shuvos is proof positive that he must be deemed an am-ho'oretz.
Rest assured that there are numerous Gedolie Yisroel that even they have not written seforim (and since you may "demand" an example to refute your fiction, I will give you one historical figure: Dovid Hamelech did not write any SHuT's).
I won't muddy myself by sifting through the mud slinging of your posting. Instead, I'll reiterate my response to your negativity:
What if anything have YOU done for klal Yisroel???
We all know about the incredible work that Lazar and Chabad and Or Avner have done for klal Yisroel, but you are critical of them. So I ask, have you done anything for klal Yisroel or is your activities limited to howling at the moon like a rabid dog?
9
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:13 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Of course, Zionist state is no friend of Yidden. However, it is also important that these words come from a person who is:
1) An am-ho-oretz who was annointed to his position of Rav-me-taam (A kazenner sheigetz, as Russian Jews used to call such people) by a former KGB officer Mr. Putin. Frume Yidden have different way of nominating rabbis.
2) Operating so-called "Jewish schools" which openly accept Goim Gmurim as students to inflate the number of pupils to satisfy the ego of Mechalel Shabbos and grave-digger Lev Leviev;
3) Has created MANY tzoros and mesiros for other Jewish communities in Russia;
4) Is operating a restaurant with mixed dancing right on the first floor of the main Chabazzker community center and synagogue (this is just one example of frumkeit level in his "kehilo");
5) Who, after all, is promoting his Dead-Messianic cult as an only proper form of Judaism in front of millions of Goyim
And so on and so forth...
Including that for 90% of Russian Jews INTERESTED IN YIDDISHKEIT , to reccomend staying in Russia over moving to a country with a large Frum community (yes, including Eretz Yisroel) is plain Shfichas Domim. ”
Who put you in the position of a public statement. Are you a Rav? Did you get permission from a Rav? Do you Know for a fact that all of the above mentioned is true?
For arguments sake. If all that you have stated is true. Under what premise do you have permission to speak.
Mr Emes, does not need to answer your ridiculous claims. By answering to you shows that their is legitimacy to your claim.
Their is a resone the Chachomim wrote "siyug lechochmoh shtikah"
By fact that such a bad thing could be said by someone shows that they have that bad thing within them selves. One can only see bad in others if that bad exists within them.
May be "Aseres Yemay teshuvah" should be a good time for some self introspection.
A Gut gebensht yur
10
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:16 PM Anonymous Says:
“ To Russki,
Your silliness becomes more evident with your last posting. You called a Rov an am-ho'oretz, and then follow up with: "Would you provide some evidence that:
1) a)Berl Lazar is indeed a talmid-chochom (references to his SHuT’s etc.)"
I guess in your mind, any Rov who hasn't published a sefer of chidushim or T'shuvos is proof positive that he must be deemed an am-ho'oretz.
Rest assured that there are numerous Gedolie Yisroel that even they have not written seforim (and since you may "demand" an example to refute your fiction, I will give you one historical figure: Dovid Hamelech did not write any SHuT's).
I won't muddy myself by sifting through the mud slinging of your posting. Instead, I'll reiterate my response to your negativity:
What if anything have YOU done for klal Yisroel???
We all know about the incredible work that Lazar and Chabad and Or Avner have done for klal Yisroel, but you are critical of them. So I ask, have you done anything for klal Yisroel or is your activities limited to howling at the moon like a rabid dog?
”
to the point
11
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:50 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Who put you in the position of a public statement. Are you a Rav? Did you get permission from a Rav? Do you Know for a fact that all of the above mentioned is true?
For arguments sake. If all that you have stated is true. Under what premise do you have permission to speak.
Mr Emes, does not need to answer your ridiculous claims. By answering to you shows that their is legitimacy to your claim.
Their is a resone the Chachomim wrote "siyug lechochmoh shtikah"
By fact that such a bad thing could be said by someone shows that they have that bad thing within them selves. One can only see bad in others if that bad exists within them.
May be "Aseres Yemay teshuvah" should be a good time for some self introspection.
A Gut gebensht yur ”
You say: "By fact that such a bad thing could be said by someone shows that they have that bad thing within them selves. One can only see bad in others if that bad exists within them."
Using your logic it would be reasonable to conclude that you have "that bad" within yourself as well if you see it in Mr Russki.
12
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:32 PM Russki Says:
Dear Emes,
I thought your passionate response meant that you have a first-hand knowledge of the matter. It looks that I was mistaken and you are just a teenager with uncontrolled access to Internet. So I have to tell you that I know Lazar personally for probably longer that you have been out of the diapers. And he IS an am-ho-oretz.
Dear Anon #9,
I envy you as you are able to always have your Rov on a short leash (using the terminology of Mr. Emes) to be able to consult him every time before your open your mouth.
13
Oct 05, 2008 at 04:33 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Dear Emes,
I thought your passionate response meant that you have a first-hand knowledge of the matter. It looks that I was mistaken and you are just a teenager with uncontrolled access to Internet. So I have to tell you that I know Lazar personally for probably longer that you have been out of the diapers. And he IS an am-ho-oretz.
Dear Anon #9,
I envy you as you are able to always have your Rov on a short leash (using the terminology of Mr. Emes) to be able to consult him every time before your open your mouth.
”
Dear Russki
Based on this comment "So I have to tell you that I know Lazar personally for probably longer that you have been out of the diapers. And he IS an am-ho-oretz." It appears that this is something personal. And is based on "personal" experience you must have had. (which we can then infer, that your comments are based on your feelings not on had facts)
From Reading what you wrote. I would say you are quite a intelligent person. Which brings be to the fallowing question. Why would such a person clean his laundry in public?
14
Oct 05, 2008 at 04:37 PM Anonymous Says:
“ You say: "By fact that such a bad thing could be said by someone shows that they have that bad thing within them selves. One can only see bad in others if that bad exists within them."
Using your logic it would be reasonable to conclude that you have "that bad" within yourself as well if you see it in Mr Russki.
”
Yes you are correct. I do have such a trait within me.
The reason why I brought it up. Is to show MR. Russki Where I believe he had got lost.
15
Oct 05, 2008 at 08:11 PM Emes Says:
Russki in #12 - you still enjoy name calling, a favorite term of yours is am-ho-oretz. I indicated earlier that I won't be drawn into the toxic waste that you spew. Instead I will take the high road and speak positively. Clearly an am-ho-oretz is not a Talmid Chochom, and a T.C. is not an am-ho-oretz.
Chazal tell us the minimum definition of a Talmid Chochom is one who knows a mishna (Kidushin 49b re: if one gives Kidushion conditional to being a Talmid Chocham).
You continue with your silliness by asserting without any basis in reality that I lack first-hand knowledge of the matter. Rest assured that once again you are predicably wrong - by that doesn't deter you from howling at the moon.
While on topic of defining Talmid Chochom, it would be remiss of me not to mention that Chazal provide many other definitions, the following is not an exhaustive list:
Declaring one's self a Torah Scholar, vis-a-vis work on the 9th of Av: Berachot 17b; Pesachim 54b; Taanit 30b
Level necessary for a Torah Scholar to claim a lost object on recognizing it, without presenting a description independently: Shabbat 114a
General spiritual requirements of a Torah Scholar: Yuma 72b
Defining a Torah Scholar who is fit to be a "Parnas" - a community leader: Shabbat 114a [2x]
Defining a Torah Scholar who deserves to have others do his work for him: Shabbat 114a
Level of a Torah Scholar to deserve having a worn-out Torah Scroll buried alongside him: Megillah 26b
A scholar constantly reviews his learning: R. Berachot 5a "Ve'Im Talmid"
Only one who wakes early to study and studies until late can master Torah: Eruvin 21b-22a
Only one who darkens his face like that of a raven can master Torah: Eruvin 22a
Only one who is harsh to his family, as a raven is, can master Torah: Eruvin 22a
Russki, continue howling at the moon, it comes naturally to rabid dogs.
16
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:57 PM torahtrue Says:
Here it goes again, a miragel (a spy, and descendent of the original 12 spies who were sent by Moshe to tour the holyland),filling the air with hot air and lashon hara about Israel. What is your agenda, Mr. Rabbi?
17
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:10 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ Of course, Zionist state is no friend of Yidden. However, it is also important that these words come from a person who is:
1) An am-ho-oretz who was annointed to his position of Rav-me-taam (A kazenner sheigetz, as Russian Jews used to call such people) by a former KGB officer Mr. Putin. Frume Yidden have different way of nominating rabbis.
2) Operating so-called "Jewish schools" which openly accept Goim Gmurim as students to inflate the number of pupils to satisfy the ego of Mechalel Shabbos and grave-digger Lev Leviev;
3) Has created MANY tzoros and mesiros for other Jewish communities in Russia;
4) Is operating a restaurant with mixed dancing right on the first floor of the main Chabazzker community center and synagogue (this is just one example of frumkeit level in his "kehilo");
5) Who, after all, is promoting his Dead-Messianic cult as an only proper form of Judaism in front of millions of Goyim
And so on and so forth...
Including that for 90% of Russian Jews INTERESTED IN YIDDISHKEIT , to reccomend staying in Russia over moving to a country with a large Frum community (yes, including Eretz Yisroel) is plain Shfichas Domim. ”
You must really have a large number of frustrations that you bring to the fore! Were you ever insulted or otherwise offended by Rabbi Berel Lazar, that you call him names, and deride his [religious] affiliation. He is a person who, together with his wife have gone to a [spiritual] "Desert" and have built up a community from nothing. Also attacking a Yid who offers his whole life to build up Yiddishkeit and Torah all over Eastern Europe and Asia, who could otherwise have enjoyed his Billions, and uses the blessing to work tirelessly toward that goal! Pity you. I really hope, you get cured both emotionally and spiritually! Also, Rabbi B. Lazar is entitled to his opinion, as you are to yours!!!
18
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:32 PM Homey Says:
Emes,
You really haven't much substance to say to Russki, who sounds very well versed and seems to have done his homework, so if I were you, I'd quit while I'm far behind.
19
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:37 PM Emes Says:
“ Emes,
You really haven't much substance to say to Russki, who sounds very well versed and seems to have done his homework, so if I were you, I'd quit while I'm far behind. ”
You aren't me, thank you, and your free advice is worth the price paid for it. You may join Russki's pack by howling at the moon instead of doing something positive to benefit klal Yisroel.
20
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:52 PM Homey Says:
You seem to be obsessed with repeating "howling at the moon" and "what have YOU done for klal yisroel" (3 times, no less!). You have no answers other than those two quotations for anything Russki (or me for that matter, apparently) says to you.
If you won't agree to a psychiatric evaluation, at least take a course in creative writing and reading comprehension. And that's "free advice" that is priceless.
21
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:57 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Emes,
You really haven't much substance to say to Russki, who sounds very well versed and seems to have done his homework, so if I were you, I'd quit while I'm far behind. ”
Huh! Empty accusations are "substance"?? Are you C'V mekabel Loshon Horah??
22
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:55 PM Anonymous Says:
I believe in Emes. Also, I never trusted the Russkies. That settles it.
23
Oct 05, 2008 at 11:57 PM Russki Says:
You anonymous guys get it wrong. I have nothing against Lazar personally. If he would present himself only as a leader of Russia's Chabad I could not care any more than I care about some Jewish-born Russian Orthodox priest. But he is speaking in the name of all Russian Jews, including myself. And since his cult of dead Messiah does not represent me, i choose to disagree - loudly. As per accusations I brought, they are easily checkable.
24
Oct 06, 2008 at 07:07 AM I Know Berel L continued Says:
BS"D
3) R' Berel Lazar is not a rav and poisek. He is an activist and organizer, and as such his level of Torah knowledge does not have to be that of a godol hador. He has a very fine beis din and kashrus department (which I rely on where I am) to handle complex halachic questions. While he most certainly is not an am ha-aretz, I personally am not sure as to his level of knowledge (he tended to err on the side of extreme caution from what I remember) but I never relied upon him, and nor do I rely upon our amazing head shaliach where I now live, for anything but minor questions of an urgent nature. (I have a rov abroad who paskens often complex business shylas for me). Why? Because they were not sent by the Rebbe ZYA to pasken shylas. They were sent to spread Yiddishkeit and that is what they are doing 24/7!
25
Oct 06, 2008 at 12:52 PM re above Says:
BS"D
Also, R' Berel Lazar and the shluchim who work under him do not believe or teach anything remotely resembling a "cult of dead Messiah". The official organization and its personnel are not meshichisten.
26
Oct 06, 2008 at 01:33 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ Emes,
You really haven't much substance to say to Russki, who sounds very well versed and seems to have done his homework, so if I were you, I'd quit while I'm far behind. ”
Mr. or Mrs. Homey. I'm sure you're good at baking [homey and honey cookies]! But lining up with a bitter (probably didn't get a "Nice" enough Aliya, suited to his knowledge and social stand) individual who's out to impugn the reputation of such wonderful people (like Rabbi & Rebbitzin Lazar and Mr. Lev Leviev) who are working tirelessly toward one goal. To build up Torah and Yiddishkeit throughout Eastern Europe!