Russia calls for banning Judaism

Indian Express ^ | 27 june 2005 | Indian Express

[voletti]

Russia has ordered an inquiry into a 16th century Jewish religious law to ascertain whether it constitutes racist incitement and anti-Russian material, a media report said. Russia’s state prosecutor has ordered an examination into ‘shulhan arukh’, a code of Jewish Halakhic law compiled in the 16th century, and a probe against a Jewish umbrella outfit in Russia for distributing a Russian translation of an abbreviation of the religious law.

The probe was launched after some 500 public figures, including members of the Nationalist Rodina Party, in a letter to the prosecutor’s office urged to outlaw the Jewish religion and all its organisations operating in Russia, daily Ha'aretz reported.

The affair being closely watched in Israel has raised concerns for the Jews of Russia, who have come under increased anti-semitic attacks recently, the report said.

[jb6]

10% of those who left, which is a bit over 1 million.

[M. Espinola]

Well worth reviewing once again for all those which under the impression Russia has total transformed form it's past.

"Russia and the Soviet Union had a long history of state-sponsored anti-Semitism, including the residence restrictions in the Russian Empire, brutal pogroms at the turn of the 19th to 20th century, and Soviet-era discrimination against Jews."

"The government no longer perpetuates anti-Semitism after the 1991 Soviet collapse, but many rights groups accuse Russian leaders of being silent in the face of xenophobia, expressed in the occasional desecration of Jewish cemeteries and more frequent skinhead attacks against dark-skinned foreigners."

Excellent overview.

[M. Espinola]

"Don't forget Judaism is one of the five officially recognized religions in Russia - codified by LAW."

Thanks for reminding me, as Mr. Putin continues allowing Tehran to gain offensive nuclear weapons.

Which two nation would the mullahs love to nuke off the face of this planet?

[sergey1973]

This inquiry is totally ridiculous and grotesque, but I don't think this will result in banning of Jewish organizations in Russia. Putin with all his warts is not an idiiot to allow it to happen--all the judicial power in Russia is ultimately in his hands. I think Putin does not want to completely isolate Russia from civilized world. Otherwise, I'm really afraid Russia will sink further into the totalitarianism.

[Kuehn12]

Dean comment sound more Brain-Dead than anything else.

[Alouette]

Mr. Putin continues allowing Tehran to gain offensive nuclear weapons.

While Mr. Bush continues coercing Israel into making suicidal concessions.

There's plenty of blame to go around.

[Kuehn12]

This article seemed very vague. What officials? What was the result of the investigation? What is "shulhan arukh".
How far has Nazi organizations penetrated the Russian government? This article didn't do anything but sensationalize things, and not give us any information.

[Vicomte13]

"When I was involved in posting against Clinton's war in Yugoslavia I saw first hand the way news was distorted. This is what I am seeing done to news out of Russia. Distorted to make it more ominous than it is. Sometimes it is subtle - other times heavy handed - this article is a heavy handed distortion. For example of this - where in the article does it say 'Russia' calls for a ban on Judaism as the headline says it does? You can see the slight of hand distortion involved as you think about it."

I see the same thing regarding France all the time.
Of course, more folks are inclined to believe anything scurrilous about France.

[Alouette]

Zinovy Kogan is a "Progressive" (liberal, reform) "rabbi" who published his own, self-authorized translation of the "Shulchan Aruch." Since Kogan's denomination liberal Jews do not follow the original "Shulchan Aruch" why would he bother to make a translation, unless it is to show how "backward" and "repressed" his opponents are.

Apparently it is Kogan's version, and not the classical Shulchan Aruch that is being challenged.

Google on "Zinovy Kogan" (excluding today's news item) for more on this opportunistic self-promoter.

[SJackson]

Apparently it is Kogan's version, and not the classical Shulchan Aruch that is being challenged.

Thanks, I'm not really familiar with him. It's still not clear to me whether this is/was an actual investigation of the Shulchan Aruch, his "version", or as some of the articles imply the ongoing investigation into the possibility of criminal charges (dropped Friday) considered against the original 19 legislators and 2 newspapers which printed their charges, in which case some probing into the Shulchan Aruch would be appropriate. In either case, the news is stale.

[dervish]

100,000 Jews returning? Please cite a source.

Since the fall of the FSU, over 1,000,000 Russians have moved to Israel. Even if your number of 100,000 returning is correct (I don't think it is) that is an incredible feat for a country of Israel's size (6,500,000).

The Russian Aliyah is widely considered the most sucessful.

[Alouette]

some of the articles imply

All of the articles have one source: Kogan. "Fake" but "accurate"?

Who stands to gain if (chas veshalom!) Russia bans the "Code of Jewish Law"? Kogan and his "progressives" are the first in line.

[dervish]

Are you opposed to aliyah?

[Alouette]

Are you opposed to aliyah?

I am opposed to stirring up mass hysteria in order to promote aliyah. Two of my kids have already made aliyah on their own free will and I would go myself except that my parents are elderly.

[dervish]

I am not interested in hysteria, but I am against the silence which contributes to allowing anti-Semitism to thrive.

Putin and Russia need to be vigilant. It is undeniable that circumstances are better for Jews. But it is also undeniable that there are still many in Russia who wish Jews ill.

[SevenofNine]

So it is Orthdorx Judism having revival while left winger part of Judism not having one

I SEEEEE

[Alouette]

there are still many in Russia who wish Jews ill.

I would put Zinovy Kogan in that category. He has a grudge against Berel Lazar for being elected Chief Rabbi instead of him and I don't think he gives a $#!% how many other Jews go down if he can take down Berel Lazar.

[dervish]

Rabbi Kogan lived throught the Soviet repression unlike Rabbi Lazar, a newcomer post Perestroika, who was advanced by Putin. Chabad/Lubavitch have strong ties to Putin. Is this a good thing?

If you want to tar Rabbi Kogan with hurting Jews, a charge that is unfair, I would have to respond with concern that Chabad's ties to Putin make them far from neutral.

But the truth is this kind of in-fighting is only destructive to the Jewish Community.

[Cincinna]

Russia is a disaster, socially,morally and economically waiting to happen.

The history of anti-semitism in Russia runs long and deep through the culture and in the Russian consciousness.

These people have learned nothing in almost 100 years.

Where is Amnesty Int'l and other so called "human rights" groups?

[Alouette]

Rabbi Kogan lived throught the Soviet repression

Yes and this makes him a hero exactly how? He is a bitter, angry, vindictive little man who was waiting his turn in line to become Chief Rabbi after the KGB apparatchik Shayevich, and Berel Lazar "stole his rabbinate" like the zionist "stole Palestinian land."

Chabad/Lubavitch have strong ties to Putin. Is this a good thing?

Zinovy Kogan has strong ties to Gussinsky. Is this a good thing?