Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., December 11, 2007 Tevet 2, 5768 | | Israel Time: 17:43 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking at a Kremlin meeting with members of the European Jewish Congress in Moscow Wednesday. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 11:23 11/10/2007 Putin spurns Leviev, invites 'Gaydamak's rabbi' to Kremlin By Lily Galili, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Estonia, Vladimir Putin  In a move that brought the feud between Russian tycoons Arkady Gaydamak and Lev Leviev to a new high, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, an associate of Gaydamak, and not Rabbi Berel Lazar, who is close to Leviev, to a meeting with representatives of the European Jewish Congress at the Kremlin on Wendnesday. The feud pits Lazar's Chabad Association of Jewish Communities in Russia, which Leviev heads, against Goldschmidt's Russian Jewish Congress of which Gaydamak is president. Until now, Lazar was the only rabbi close to the Russian president and no other local rabbi was ever invited to the Kremlin. Behind his back, Lazar was even called "Putin's rabbi." Advertisement However, the Jewish community in Russia believes that Lazar was passed over because he did not do a good enough job improving Russia's image in the eyes of the United States Congress and American Jewish communities, failing to portray Russia as a nation that is not anti-Semitic. Jews in Russia also believe that Putin reached the conclusion that a rabbi who does not represent all the Chabad movements in Russia can not serve as the representative of the entire Jewish-Russian community. Because of this, Putin turned to Goldschmidt. The sudden turn of events in Moscow may also have an effect on Israeli politics. In contrast to Lazar, Goldschmidt is a Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox rabbi and is very close to Rabbi Elyashiv, a powerful political figure in Jerusalem. Goldschmidt's improved standing in Russia could help Gaydamak in his plans to run for mayor of Jerusalem. Putin slams Latvia, Estonia in meeting with Jewish leaders Vladimir Putin railed against Estonia and Latvia Wednesday, accusing the former Soviet republics of condoning Nazism and the European Union of being indifferent. Speaking at a Kremlin meeting with members of the European Jewish Congress, Putin also lashed out at Ukraine for allowing veterans of partisan groups that fought both the Nazis and the Soviet Army to hold war remembrances. "We know that denying the Holocaust in several countries is prosecuted under the law in a series of countries, but at the same times, the actions of the Latvian and Estonian authorities openly indulge the heroization of the Nazis and their supporters. And these facts remain unnoticed by the European Union," Putin said. Russia in recent years has repeatedly condemned the two Baltic states for allowing World War II veterans who fought on the side of the Nazis against the Soviet Union's Red Army to hold marches and commemorations. Estonia's decision to move a Soviet war monument from its site in the center of the capital, Tallinn sparked heated protests from Moscow. Heading the European delegation was its recently elected president, Vyacheslav Kantor, a Russian metals tycoon who is a reportedly a close associate of Putin and who was once linked to jailed oil billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Kantor warned of the danger of nuclear terrorism emerging from rogue countries like North Korea and Iran, and spoke out against banalizing the dangers of anti-Semitism. Kantor also heads the Russian Jewish Congress, one of two major Jewish groups that often compete for influence in Russia - a country with a long history of official and unofficial anti-Semitism. More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us Talking too much Censor: IDF officers provided the press with classified information during the war. Intelligent estimate? Rosner's Domain analyzes the U.S. intelligence estimate on Iran's nuclear program.   1.   Putin has a good point 20:39  |  ottomatik 10/10/07   2.   Putin a hypocrate 21:10  |  dovale 10/10/07   3.   Balts as all Euros are a bunch of Nazis 21:22  |  Mike 10/10/07   4.   Russian weapons are sold to Iran, Syria, and Hezballah 21:22  |  Double meaning 10/10/07   5.   Putin is just mad because Latvia and Estonia 21:25  |  Ubber Euro 10/10/07   6.   if Putin likes him, he`s probably corrupt, evil or both 22:57  |  moish 10/10/07   7.   WHEN PUTIN GETS TO KNOW GOLDSHMIDT, HE WILL CALL BACK LAZAR)))) 00:37  |  VOICE of MOSHIACH))) 11/10/07   8.   Russia true to its hebrew meaning 02:30  |  Jon 11/10/07   9.   Lazar out of country 06:24  |  menachem 11/10/07   10.   Are Litvaks Less Dangerous Than Lubavitchers? 06:26  |  Rowan Berkeley 11/10/07   11.   how are lubawiczer dangerous? 07:09  |  sweis Melbourne 11/10/07   12.   Dangerous, yes 08:33  |  Rowan Berkeley 11/10/07   13.   I agree 14:41  |  The Avenger 11/10/07   14.   rowan they opposed napoleon same as Britain 15:52  |  HareidiJew 11/10/07   15.   Rowan stop hallucinating? 15:53  |  Jewboy 11/10/07   16.   If there is Judaism in Russia today it is thanks to Lubavitch 16:02  |  Debby Cohen 11/10/07   17.   If there is Judaism in Russia today 02:32  |  Eshkol Hakofer 12/10/07   18.   Chabad is here to stay 18:23  |  debby cohen 12/10/07   19.   goldschmidt 04:11  |  isaac 13/11/07   20.   Lev Leviev 14:22  |  The Berlin Wall 10/12/07

Today Online B. Burston: Hamas - If we can kill them, we can talk to them Responses: 180 8 Palestinians killed, 4 IDF soldiers hurt in Gaza raids Responses: 124 Editorial: Yes to Israeli concessions in Jerusalem Responses: 95 Rosner's Guest: Israel's enemies don't just want Jerusalem Responses: 19 Moshe Arens: The new post-Zionists - Olmert and Livni Responses: 36 U.K. pledges $500M in aid to PA if peace process successful Responses: 59 Rosner's Domain New Guest: "we neither require nor request Israel's permission to fight for Jerusalem" Survey: American Jews support Clinton/Giuliani (WTR) Do Iowa voters care about Israel-Palestine? Jervis & Cohen discuss the flaws of the Iran NIE More Headlines 14:41 8 Palestinians killed, 4 IDF soldiers hurt in Gaza raids 16:38 Palestinian negotiators to urge settlement freeze during talks 17:43 Iran aiming for 50,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges in 5 years 14:22 Lieberman: Gov`t can't discuss outposts, ignore Negev building 16:10 T.A. Reform rabbi fears for Israel ties within American community 09:52 Moscow pushing for follow-up Mideast peace summit in April 14:19 Teachers, government close to deal to end two-month strike 11:02 Report: Iranian opposition group says Tehran did not halt nuke program 14:05 Passer-by finds two scorched bodies in car in Kibbutz Na'an 17:32 Labor's Barak, Cabel meet to resolve dispute over adviser's dismissal Previous Editions Select Day 10 dec 09 dec 07 dec 06 dec 05 dec 04 dec 03 dec 02 dec 30 nov 29 nov 28 nov 27 nov

Special Offers Advertisement Invest in Macedonia New Business Heaven in Europe Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt. Holiday Inn and Crown Plaza Israel Lowest internet rate Guaranteed at ichotelsgroup.com !

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved