Kiev's Jews told to flee
Ukrainian Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman, called on Kiev's Jews to leave the city and even the country if possible, fearing that the city's Jews will be victimized in the chaos, Israeli daily Maariv reported Friday.
"I told my congregation to leave the city center or the city all together and if possible the country too," Rabbi Azman told Maariv. "I don't want to tempt fate," he added, "but there are constant warnings concerning intentions to attack Jewish institutions."
According to the paper's report Azman closed the Jewish community's schools but still holds three daily prayers. He said the Israeli embassy told members of the Jewish community to avoid leaving their homes.
Edward Dolinsky, head of the umbrella organization of Ukraine's Jews described the situation in Kiev as dire, telling Maariv "We contacted Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman requesting he assist us with securing the community."President Viktor Yanukovich fled his residence and the city earlier on Saturday, but he did not succeed in fleeing the country. Meanwhile, former President Yulia Tymoshenko was released from three years of detention on Saturday. Tymoshenko, who is aligned with Russia, has been accused of anti-Semitism in the past.
But note this correction at the end of the Haaretz piece quoted above.
Correction (Feb. 22, 4:20 P.M.): An earlier version of this report incorrectly described Rabbi Azman as the chief rabbi of Ukraine. Azman is not the country's chief rabbi, but one of two rabbis challenging the official chief rabbi, Yaakov Bleich, in Kiev, and like most Chabad rabbis, is aligned with the Kremlin.Hmmm.
Labels: anti-Semitism, Ukraine
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:27 PM
3 Comments:
Where they strongly involved with the regime, or is the fear based on lawlessness coupled with a collapse of law, on top of local prejudice? If you don't know the answer, that is fair. But expect that the question needs to be, has to be, answered before... sympathy can be offered.
I had no sympathy for ruling minorities, in other countries, who happened to find themselves in a bad situation once a tyranny fell. Especially where state murder or outright genocide were involved. None.
Actually, Tymoshenko is not 'aligned with Russia' (good ol' fact challenged Ha'aretz!).
She wants the Ukraine to join the EU and the West, as she's said repeatedly.That's why she was jailed in 2011 by Yanukovych when he was elected, who actually is a Russian puppet.
As for the Ukraine's Jews, I'm amazed at how many are still there (70,000, I believe). Jew hatred in the nation that was one of the perpetrators of Babi Yar is still rampant, and in any case the Ukraine is in pretty dire straits right now no matter what happens, because the country is essentially broke. They'd be far better off in Israel.
Regards,
Rob@ Joshuapundit
Pssst! Get a load of Yanukovich's residence!
These thugs are all the same!
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