Moscow – Nearly six months after the fact, reports have surfaced about a secret one day diplomatic visit to Iran made last spring by Russia’s chief rabbi.
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Arutz Sheva reported that Rabbi Berel Lazar was sent to Iran in April by Russian President Vladimir Putin with whom he reportedly shares a very close relationship.
No official sources have confirmed the report, but a tweet posted on April 8th by Rabbi Shaye Deitsch, director of Moscow’s Shaarei Tzedek Social Center which is under Rabbi Lazar’s auspices, wished Rabbi Lazar well on “an important and secret mission on behalf of the Jewish community,” noting that further details might be made available in the future.
According to Israel’s Channel 10 News, Rabbi Lazar had originally hoped to make the trip a month earlier and had intended to bring matza for Pesach to Iranian Jews.
The decision to send Rabbi Lazar on the April 9th mission to improve economic relationships between the two countries reportedly came directly from Putin.
Iranian officials were originally opposed to Rabbi Lazar’s participation, but the Russian government reportedly insisted that he be included in the mission.
YNet reported that Rabbi Lazar’s activities in Iran were limited exclusively to issues pertaining to religious matters. Rabbi Lazar was joined by one aide on the trip and reportedly met with Jewish community leaders in addition to visiting Teheran’s main synagogue and a Jewish school.
The reason for Rabbi Lazar’s inclusion in the delegation remains unclear, with some speculation that it may be related to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s efforts to prevent Iran from establishing a stronghold in Syria.
Hmm so maybe Putin is not the anti Semite everyone envisions ? And please don’t start hocking about his missle sales to Iran . That’s simply a monetary thing . It’s not bec he hates Jews .
Not so secret , Putin rivals inohev yisroel need in contrast to liberals like the Kenyan and corbyn
Very secret mission. Very well publisised. Good PR for Putin.
If Berl Lazar has such great relationship with Putin, Bring Back Rabbi Liabrary to 770!!!!!!!
So everyone is OK with this? But not Neturei Karta going to Iran?
When NK went everyone lost their senses, when all NK did was defend the memory of the 6 Million and call for peace.
What’s Lazar doing at the feet of genocidal tyrants?