Russia – Of all the strange relationships that define today’s Russia, few are stranger than the alliance between President Vladimir Putin and an ultra-Orthodox rabbi named Berel Lazar.
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Rabbi Lazar is a follower of Chabad-Lubavitch, a Hasidic sect based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, that is on the fringes of mainstream Judaism. Its devotees are known for their love of the Rebbe, their late spiritual leader. Some even think he’s the Messiah.
In Russia, the Lubavitch are not a marginal sect but a dominant force in Jewish life. Their leader, Rabbi Lazar, goes by the title of Russia’s chief rabbi and is viewed by many to be head of the country’s Jewish community.
Thriving on Mr. Putin’s patronage, his organization, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, is now one of Russia’s leading charities, with schools, clinics, orphanages and community centers across the country. Some credit it with single-handedly reviving Jewish life in the Russian hinterlands. But critics charge its success is based on a Faustian bargain with the Kremlin. They say Rabbi Lazar has at times deliberately played down anti-Semitism in Russia and acted as a lobbyist for Mr. Putin around the world. In exchange, Chabad-Lubavitch enjoys unparalleled political influence and has been allowed to gain control of millions of dollars worth of communal property from the Russian state, often trouncing rival claims from other Jewish organizations, critics say.
“There were always court Jews under the Czars, under the Soviets,” says Yevgeny Satanovsky, a Jewish community leader. “Lazar is firmly in that tradition.”
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to may 9, 11:12 am, you are right the minute all jews unite moshiach will be here in two seconds, this exsplains why chabad drinks when they have a gathering, to bring out their inner love for any yid so if you’re from a different org. but as long you’re a yid they will still embrace and salute you because the bottom line every yid needs each other, we are all under the one umbrella called am yisroel, we all have a goal to fullfill and that is achdus.
to 1:00pm, Leviav knew Putin way before Lazar, Berel was despised by almost everyone in the Kremlin until he FJC started pumping money into the Kremlin for PR. I worked in Moscow for a couple of years, The corruption that goes on there, In the Government – In religious sects, and even in Children’s schools, it’s disgusting.
Why are people talking about Ahavas Yisroel here, I barely saw that in Moscow, Chabad hates Keroor, Agudah Hates chabad, A shliach wouldn’t even greet me if they saw me walk out of a non-chabad shul.
Before helping non-believers, Chabad should first help out its existing members & work out their difference with other Jewish organizations in Russia…Only then should they go helping the 1000’s of non-believers.
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Quote from http://www.fjc.ru
“An earlier effort by the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Communities of Russia, or KEROOR, the FJC’s main rival in the FSU”
Rivals? So this is a sword fight now? Why not work together like jewish brothers.
Amen….
The beauty of Chabad and their message is the unconditional love and acceptance of every Jew. As a BT through chabad many years ago, I have been hard pressed to find a community with such Ahavas Yisrael. Instead of the focus on yichus, or status or money, which I have found so disgustingly prevalent in my community, the motivation of lubavitchers is just to inspire Jews to be Jewish and to figure out what that means to them. No judgement, just acceptance. Its something to emulate.
When the communists were in power, The Lubavitcher Rebbe had the wisdom and foresight to quietly build a huge underground network of yeshivos, mikvaos. mohelim, etc. Most of them following the Rebbe’s instructions by literally placing their own lives on the line. When communism collapsed, as the Rebbe predicted would happen, Lubavitch was already there, in place, and ready to take control. They paid the price and deserve ALL the credit.
From the article:
The Federation is now one of Russia’s leading charities, with schools, clinics, orphanages and community centers across the country. Some credit it with single-handedly reviving Jewish life in the Russian hinterlands… Chabad now has 4,000 emissaries… operating in 73 countries around the world. Just over 150 of them are in Russia… There are now 9,000 children studying at Chabad day schools and 5,000 at Chabad kindergartens. FEOR has restored dozens of synagogues and built 16 community centers across Russia. This year, 150,000 people in Russia attended free FEOR-sponsored Passover meals.… “What we’ve seen over the last 20 years is nothing short of a miracle,” Rabbi Lazar says.
Everyone should have hakoras hatoiv for Lubavitch for all the great work they do in hanging up pictures of the nosi hadoir all over. Every house should have a picture of Moshiach in it. Let us welcome the Rebbe bikoroiv mamash, he should get up from the cemetery in Queens and redeem Klal Yisroel and all Satmars should accept him and make a copies of 770 in Willy and KJ !
Helping Putin who sells arms to Hezbollah is not a lot of “ahavas yisroel”.
the rebbe by one farbrengn mentioned that we should learn from the others like williamburg, who are involved with all their energy in bikor cholim and gemilas chasaim.
Could he be mashpia on the police headquarters in russia to fight antisemitsm.
To 9:27am: Satanovsky is a well known name in Russian Jewish circles. Don’t give this “Chabad Reabbe Moschiach” nonsense here. Don’t speculate on something you have no knowledge of.
Lazar introduced Lev Levaev to Putin, and that’s the end of it. Levaev is now investing billions and billions in Russia’s economy and is known to have very close relationship w/ Putin.
It’s true though that Chabad is doing an excellent job in Russia. They are present pretty much in all the major cities, open schools, community centers etc.
They really have true ahavas Yisroel which they extend to many many people there.
9:20 I have to agree , the usual comments will get posted but by and large with all the messiah craziness Lubavitch has I gotta admit they totally rock in every sense of the word.
I mean I’m just a typical flatbush guy and I can’t remember all thetimes I’ve been helped by a shaliach in spiritual and emotional stuff in my many travels. There is really nothing else out there that reeks of true ahavas yisroel. Yup I know no one is perfect but I’ll take this over anything anytime.
Yevgeny Satanovsky is jealous. The guy doesnt have what it takes to be a leader. So because he is a nothing (ive never heard his name before and im sure you havent either) he has to pull down and defame the greatest thing that happened to Russia. That is Chabd, the Rebbe, and his Shluchim.
All those who hate Chabd remeber one thing: Chabad and Chassidus survived the misnagdim of 250 years ago, and we will continue to survive the attacks of modern day Misnagdim and so called “Gedolim” etc…
Hashem should help that you should find it in your hearts to be accepting of Chabad and Chassidus, and Moshiach should come speedily in our days.
Hatzlocho Harav Reb Berel Lazar Shlit”a
You can say whatever you want, Lubavitch does amazing work around the world. No one else comes close to them, when it comes to helping other yidden you can always count on Lubavitch.
To all of you that will post negative comments regarding Lubavitchers remember one thing,
No organization has helped the Jewish world like Lubavitch.
Should there be negative comments we should assume that it is purely jealousy.
Chabad keep up the good work!!!!!