Ex-chief rabbi of Moscow warns of ‘dark clouds’ for Russian Jews

The former chief rabbi of Moscow, currently in exile in Israel, warned Thursday of “dark clouds on the horizon” for Russian Jews, as ties between the two countries deteriorate over the war in Ukraine.

Pinchas Goldschmidt, who left Russia in March for opposing the conflict, told reporters that “the Jewish community was pressured … to openly support the war. Our community did not support the war.”

“The situation is worrying” and there are “many dark clouds on the horizon” for Russian Jews, he said, adding that their “security and future…depends on Israel and of Russia”. reports.”

Israel has tried to toe a cautious line in order to maintain ties with Moscow – seen as crucial to preserving the Jewish state’s ability to carry out airstrikes in neighboring Syria where Russian forces are present.

“Right now it would be impossible for me to come back,” the Swiss-born rabbi said during an online briefing, adding, “If I had [remained] the chief rabbi of Moscow, I could not express myself openly without endangering my community.”

“I have decided to stay in exile until the political situation changes.”

Following the February 24 invasion, then-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett refrained from criticizing the actions of Russian President Vladimir Putin and stressed the need for close ties with Moscow.

But Bennett’s successor, Yair Lapid, condemned the Russian invasion.

Analysts say Lapid’s rhetoric was partly behind Moscow’s decision to shut down the Russian branch of the Jewish Agency, which handles the immigration of Diaspora Jews to Israel.

Lapid warned Moscow that the shutdown would be a “serious event” threatening bilateral relations.

The Kremlin said the move should not be “politicized”, calling it a purely legal issue.

According to the Jewish Agency, 16,000 Russian Jews have immigrated to Israel since the start of the invasion.

“Fear of a rise in anti-Semitism”

Goldschmidt estimated that more than 30,000 other dual passport holders had left. Russia for Israel since February 24.

the jews were leaving Russia in large numbers, partly for fear of a new “Iron Curtain” – that one day [it] will be impossible to leave,” the rabbi said, expressing what he described as concern among Jews that Putin’s government could ban foreign travel.

He said Moscow’s moves against the Jewish Agency, among other incidents, had fueled “fear of rising anti-Semitism.”

Some experts have attributed Russian threats against the agency in an attempt to slow down mass emigration.

“Whether Russia wants to stop the brain drain of its top scientists and creative class, the best way to do that is not to shut down the Jewish Agency, but to stop this war,” Goldschmidt said.

At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, a Moscow court set August 19 as the date for the Russian Justice Ministry’s trial against the agency, which has been accused of unspecified violations of the law.

The Jewish Agency started working in Russia in 1989.

More than one million of Israel’s 9.4 million people today have roots in the former Soviet Union.