Moscow – Russia’s Chief Rabbi: Most Jews Will Vote For Putin

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    FILE - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with Russia's Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar (R) during his meeting with religious leaders in the Danilov Monastery in Moscow, Russia, 08 February 2012.  EPA/GRIGORY DUKOR/POOLMoscow – Most of Russia’s Jews will likely vote for Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Sunday’s presidential elections, according to that country’s chief rabbi.

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    “Maybe if there were a more serious choice of candidates they would vote for someone else. But I haven’t yet met a single Jew who is voting for [Russian tycoon Mikhail] Prokhorov, for example,” said Chabad Rabbi Berel Lazar, in an interview with Haaretz.

    At a meeting two weeks ago with the country’s religious figures, Putin – the leading presidential candidate – asked Lazar, “Tell me, what is a Jew supposed to do on the Sabbath?” to which the rabbi replied, “Observe Shabbat.”

    “And where should he be?” Putin persisted.

    “In synagogue, praying,” Lazar said.

    “So what are all these demonstrations?” Putin asked.

    “When they held the first demonstration on Saturday, everyone in synagogue asked whether they should go or not,” Lazar said in the interview with Haaretz. “I said, for we Jews there’s no question because we have to be in synagogue, praying.” Lazar’s office in the Moscow Jewish Community Center, in the city’s Maryina Roshcha district, contains several bookcases but not a single photograph of him with Putin.

    “I told Putin we don’t interfere, the choice is a personal one. We’re pro-stability. We don’t need the Communists, and the fact that people are taking to the streets means there are complaints, and everyone has to think about how to make life better. But I won’t tell Jews how to vote,” Lazar said.

    “We don’t interfere in political issues – whether for good or bad that’s for the experts to say,” Lazar said. “But when it comes to Judaism, the attitude in the country is special, and it’s not because of the United States.”


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    17 Comments
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    Benny
    Benny
    12 years ago

    Guess who put in this “chief Rabbi” in charge of Russia?

    So Putin has “tainos” on him.

    So what do you think that the “chief Rabbi” will tell people to go stand up for freedom now?

    12 years ago

    Well, there are more parties running in Russia’s parliament election and that have seats than are in the US congress. In this country you need millions of dollars to get elected and if you from a third party you have no chance.

    12 years ago

    What problem of freedom? There are more parties in Russia than in America!

    bannanafrom2011
    bannanafrom2011
    12 years ago

    Ow shut up!!!

    Don’t forget what russia was a cupple of decades ago,
    What we have now is a Chabad rabbi very well conected with putin, that means he has to have little political speak, he can’t just say or do what ever he wants, if you don’t wanna go back to what it was…!

    leahle
    leahle
    12 years ago

    I’m sure most of the Jews “supported” the Tsar, too, when asked in public.

    12 years ago

    Is he a Lubabvitcher?

    12 years ago

    The only really happy face in this photo is the rabbi, who is clearly kvelling at his “good fortune” in landing this job that fills his ego with KAVOD.

    12 years ago

    Since Putin will undoubtedly become the next President of Russia, isn’t it better that he have good relations with the Jews? The Jews in Russia will need his support, in case the local populace decides to turn on the Jews.

    12 years ago

    putin has been extrodinarily good to the jews BH and his relationshio with lazar has helped chabad help thousands of jews.that’s a good thing.