Olmert Visits with Russia’s Chief Rabbi

Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, on an official state visit to Russia, visited yesterday at the Marina Roscha Jewish Community Center where he was joined at a formal ceremony by Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar and diamond magnate, Mr. Lev Leviev, the Israeli, Russian born philanthropist.

The Prime Minister lauded the work of Chabad of Russia for its remarkable success in rebuilding Jewish life in this region. Representatives of all the Jewish educational and social institutions developed under the Federation of Jewish Communities were present, testimony to a vibrant Jewish reality—a sharp contrast to its moribund existence under communism, until about 15 years ago.

The Prime Minister used the opportunity to encourage Jews to emigrate to Israel. Although things are good for Jews in Russia, he said, my duty is to bring them home.

Rabbi Lazar expressed solidarity with Mr. Olmert in Israel’s struggle, and said, “there is place for Israel in the heart of every Jews in Russia. We are not apathetic to Israel’s existence.” Israel’s security, he said, bolsters the confidence of Jews around the world.

Rabbi Lazar spoke of Soviet Jews, once known as “the Jews of silence,” whose Jewish expression was silenced by communist authorities, and how they were empowered to survive by their faith. Despite persecution, once a year, he said, the Jews would come to the synagogue to assert their Judaism, their faith in G-d.

It is such faith, maintained Rabbi Lazar, that will also empower Israel to triumph in the face of all threats to its survival.