Ukrainian Chief Rabbis Split over Dealing with Protests

As Ukrainian Jewish leaders appear split over supporting the opposition movement protesting in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, one of Ukraine’s chief rabbis is advocating the formation of a national unity government to resolve the country’s political crisis over its relationship with the European Union and Russia.

U.S.-born Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, head of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, told JTA on Monday that he was reaching out to opposition and government representatives in favor of unity within the framework of his involvement with the Uniting Ukraine committee — a forum for dialogue in civil society.

“If it is so important for Ukraine to enter the European Union, let the opposition come into government and discuss ways to deal with the Russian threat regarding the gas supply and closing the border for Ukrainian exports if Ukraine moves toward euro integration,” Bleich told JTA. “It is necessary for Ukrainians to pool their resources to avoid bankruptcy.”

On the other hand, Rabbi Moshe Azman, Chabad’s chief rabbi in Ukraine, told JTA the protests are “dangerous for the Jewish community.”

They are described as a legitimate and peaceful expression of the “desire of the vast majority of the Ukrainian society to […] integrate into the European civilization” by Joseph Zissels and Meylakh Sheykhet of the Ukraine Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities, and the Union of Councils for the Jews in the Former Soviet Union, respectively.

6 Comments

  • CHT

    The big problem is: amoung opposition there are lots of ukranian nationalist – they are worst anti-semits. So this by no means excuses present bandit, racketeer goverment. The question is, how much power nationalist will have once it is changed.

  • Azman

    Is NOT the Chabad chief Rabbi in Ukraine….you got that wrong…..he can speak for himself ONLY!

  • let's be careful not harmful

    I say Rabbi, whether Chabad or not, should stay away from Ukranian politics, and just give Rebbe’s message to nations about 7 mitzvos and “do good”.

  • shlomo as allways with bad english

    for thous that understood (real chabadniks)
    Спрашивает внук деда:

    – Деда, а чем отличаются евреи от жидов?

    Евреи это хорошие люди. Живут в Израиле, защищают свою страну, воюют с

    арабами. А жиды живут на Украине, жрут сало, пьют горилку и строят

    национальное украинское государство.

    – Деда, а чем отличается русский от москаля?

    Русские хорошие люди. Живут в России, любят свою Родину, воюют с

    чеченцами, дают нам нефть и газ. А москали живут на Украине, жрут сало,

    пьют горилку и строят национальное украинское государство.

    – Деда, а чем отличаются украинцы от хохлов?

    Украинцы хорошие люди. Живут в США и Канаде, не нарушают законов, любят

    Украину и занимаются бизнесом. А хохлы живут на Украине, жрут сало,

    пьют горилку и мешают жидам и москалям строить национальное украинское

    государство.