The Chief Rabbi of Russia Rav Berel Lazar, who is considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, published a letter condemning the war in Ukraine to religious leaders in Russia and throughout the world.
“At the heart of every religion stands the knowledge that we’re all children to one G-d, and if so, we’re all brothers,” the letter began. “It’s true that we’re different, we have different completely different views on many issues, but we must be united in one thing – our duty to our Creator and to strive with all our might for mutual understanding and respect and in no case to wave a sword at our brothers’ necks. One of the main foundations of the belief in one G-d is the belief that every conflict can and should be resolved only by peaceful and acceptable means.”
“One of the names of the Creator, as is known in Judaism, is Shalom. This is a goal that Hakadosh Baruch Hu pronounces to us every day – and which we review several times a day in our tefillos.”
“But today the situation is different and terrible. Every day we receive information from our partners, the Rabbanim in Ukraine, on what’s happening there. We feel the pain of our brothers -all the citizens of Ukraine – it doesn’t matter what religion they belong to. I encourage all of you to pray for peace. But that’s not enough. Hashem expects from us now that every believing person do all he is capable of to save lives.”
“I myself am ready for any mediation, ready to do everything I can, and even more, only that the guns will be silenced and the bombs will stop exploding. But now is the time for joint action. Therefore I appeal to all religious leaders -in Ukraine, Russia, Europe and other continents – in the call to unite for peace. We, loyal to the Creator of the world alone, are obligated to use our influence, every possiblity – in order to stop the madness, in order that more people won’t die. This is our holy obligation to the One Who created all of us and gave us life in this world. Come and we’ll do this – and Hakadosh Baruch Hu will help us.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
If that isn’t bravery, then I don’t know what is.
Very courageous to write this even though it may anger a certain somebody.
Frum Yidden are the biggest losers in the war. There are Jews on both sides (unlike World War II, but like World War I, the Franco-Prussian War, The American Civil War, the Crimean War and the Napoleonic Wars). Frum Jews find wartime very harsh and almost by definition, military service is a problem, and bluntly, our “skills sets” are not very useful in wartime.
While we might be better off in the event of full scale nuclear war (which will entail the end of Olam Ha-Zeh, which isn’t a place we’ve have reason to be fond of), I don’t think that is a useful way of looking at the matter.
Aha. So putins personal rabbi doesnt have the beitzim to say that his buddy is a rasha.
Let the Ukranians surrender, and the guns will stop.
This message was approved by the Russian censor
במחילת כבוד תורתו Don’t tell this ti the Rabonim in Ukraine! Tell this to your BEST FRIEND at the Kremlin!!!!!
Yes, we hope and pray for peace, of course, over and over again.
I am somewhat confused by this report, however, as according to it (which may be incorrect and/or misleading), Lazar seems to be adopting the position of the Pope, somewhat surprising for a Lubavitcher shliach. Did Lazar oppose Israeli military action against Gaza like the Pope too?
Just to put things in perspective, in Russia they view the current events that America and Ukraine made a war against Russia, and Russia right now is defending itself and also defending all Ukraine from themselves.
I can’t reason with them but that’s how the closeminded Russians they this.
Now reread the statement from the Rabbi and you’ll understand how he can say that and not worry for his life.