New York – A rabbi prominent in New York and Ukraine says instead of the G8 meeting in Sochi this June, the G7 — without Russia — should meet in Kiev.
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Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich (BLYKH) of the United Jewish Communities of Eastern Europe and Asia/American Friends of Kiev made the remarks at a press conference in New York before flying to Kiev, where he planned to present his proposal Tuesday to Secretary of State John Kerry.
Bleich said he would urge Kerry to move the summit of the world’s leading nations in Kiev to “show that you care about the people of Ukraine. Show that you are with them and change that G8 to G7.”
Rabbi Bleich said he fears that Ukraine’s large Jewish community could be attacked by anti-Semites if there’s a breakdown in society.
Bleich also announced a website to raise money for security around religious sites and to get food to the elderly in case the situation develops into a humanitarian crisis.
To donate online:
KievRelief.org
I think this well meaning Rabbi should stop making ridiculous proposals. The best thing is for those Yidden who can leave Ukraine should. The rest should be quietly cared for. Nothing is gained by all this publicity of bringing attention to the Yidden.
PLEASE rabbi, its best to just be quiet! No one listens to you and all this does is bring hate to jews.
JUST be quiet, I understand you want followers on twitter and likes on FB but you can buy those things and it will cost a fraction of what it will costs jews all over when rabbis start talking nonsense that can potentially endanger lives of jews everywhere.
Maybe we should keep low profile when 2 nations decide their borders
“Bleich also announced a website to raise money for security around religious sites and to get food to the elderly in case the situation develops into a humanitarian crisis”
Anyone know the name of the site? I would like to contribute what I can.
KievRelief.org
יפה שתיקה לחכמים
This Rabbi is doing much harm to the Jewish population of the Ukraine. It’s obvious that no matter which side Jews take, they will be accused of being traitors, etc. with all the accompanying consequences. Speaking out just invites major trouble. This Rabbi may even be considered a רודף for what he is doing.
Seriously, what good can possibly come of the jews getting involved in this mess?
Rabbi Bleich is a man who does not stop working for Klal Yisroel he build the entire Jewish community in Kiev at the time when the communist were still in power and since then he works day and night for them and yes he should continue to do what’s right for our brothers in kiev
חזק ואמץ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Rabbi Bleich said he fears that Ukraine’s large Jewish community could be attacked by anti-Semites if there’s a breakdown in society. … Bleich also announced a website to raise money …”
Well, anonymous says he fears that commenters 1 – 3 are on target, and that everyone should remember this phenomenally bad exercise of judgment
of Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich if anyone ever is faced with the prospect of having to deal with this press-conferencing Rabbi.
comments #1 , 2,3 don’t know Rabbi Bleich. He is a caring hard working Rabbi who doesn’t run around looking for kovod. He has managed to stay on good terms with all the various Jewish factions in ukraine, and has even mediated disputes between the Chabad factions in Kiev.
The Jewish people have no dog in this fight, the Rabbi should know better than taking sides between the two nations.
he Is a follower f the stolin karlin rebbe shlita and he is giving over that which he was told we should be devouted chassidm like he is to his rebbe. where do u see bli ain hora 2 rebbe that worry and hve unity for eeach other. the rebbes’ shlita follow in the way of the stolin karlin rebbes amen. through uity w should merit to hashem sending the guelah shelemah amen
To 11. lostinCA Says: comments #1 , 2,3 don’t know Rabbi Bleich.
I do know him personally, that’s why I write MY comments with a big respect to him.
But I might disagree on some of his points.
Rabbi Bleih is a great man. He built a strong jewish community in Ukraine from nothing, from ground zero.He established a strong jewish infrastructure in a country of 46mln with almost 0.5 mln of jewish population. It includes synagogues, yeshivots, houses for old and poor jews, etc.Now he is working hard to stop war
between russia and ukraine and to keep jews safe.He is not afraid and was saying the truth to all 4 presidents of ukraine, even if they did not like it
Habad Rabbi Berl Lazar iin Moscow is a “yes” man to putin.
Lubavitch leaders should instruct Berl to work with Bleih to stop a bloodshed.!!!