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Last update - 00:00 05/03/2008
Leviev: Zionism is bankrupt because of 'new American religion'
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: judaism, israel, lev leviev 

Businessmen Lev Leviev - who, in addition to being the richest person in Israel, operates a 100-school educational network in Israel, the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe - does not accept secular Jewish culture and believes that Zionism is bankrupt.

In a wide-ranging interview with Haaretz Magazine that will appear on Friday, Leviev also said that a prime minister who is prepared to negotiate over Jerusalem is betraying the Jewish people.

"The moment you ask a child in Israel what Yom Kippur means to him, and he answers the Yom Kippur War, or a fun day on a bicycle - then I don't know if that is Zionism or whatever you call it, but it has certainly become bankrupt," said Leviev. "And for that we are to blame, first and foremost, the moment we try to import the new American religion, and concentrate only on the new things that are being invented in our generation, and shrug off our Judaism."
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Leviev also criticized the Israeli policy of investigating sitting prime ministers for suspected improprieties.

"We've forgotten that in order to have a prime minister in the country, we have to let him lead the country," he said. "When he finishes his term, investigate and try him, he's not running away anywhere."

Leviev, who serves as president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS, had kinds words for outgoing Russian president Vladimir Putin and his successor, Dmitry Medvedev. "Just as Putin was a wonderful president for the Jews, I think that Medvedev will be one, too," said Leviev. "I wish the Jews themselves would appreciate the Jews the way Putin knows how to appreciate them."


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      1.   zionism in london ? 06:54  |  herzl 05/03/08
      2.   Hang on a sec... 07:24  |  Simon 05/03/08
      3.   Made Billions out of Zionism 07:32  |  Leslie Udwin 05/03/08
      4.   The Land of Israel is ours by Historical and Moral right. 08:16  |  Jean Van Daem 05/03/08
      5.   It`s Bad Enough When.... 08:21  |  B`Galil 05/03/08
      6.   Shuvi shuvi. 08:26  |  We have gone astray 05/03/08
      7.   Brilliant 08:29  |  Prince 05/03/08
      8.   Says the man who chooses his domicile for tax reasons 08:32  |  RH 05/03/08
      9.   Hypocrite 08:38  |  Robin 05/03/08
      10.   Leviev 08:55  |  Mordechai 05/03/08
      11.   Secular Jewish culture / Jerusalem 08:58  |  DkS 05/03/08
      12.   Prepare for the onslaught 09:01  |  Slibovitz 05/03/08
      13.   Leviev promo headline 09:09  |  Alan Abbey 05/03/08
      14.   Leviev 09:11  |  Michael 05/03/08
      15.   American religion? 09:39  |  Ehud 05/03/08
      16.   Thought "Israel`s richest man" had moved to London 10:01  |  Chanalau, Tova 05/03/08
      17.   Zionism according to Lev: build settlements, then run 10:08  |  zingo 05/03/08
      18.   ISRAEL NEEDS MORE MEN LIKE LEVIEV 10:08  |  HAL TRIPP 05/03/08
      19.   What says the Rambam 10:23  |  HS 05/03/08
      20.   LEVIEV 10:30  |  Me 05/03/08
      21.   Israeli arrogance 10:45  |  Gilad 05/03/08
      22.   The great teacher 10:49  |  Minuteman 05/03/08
      23.   He`s glitz, he`s glam, he`s stealing Palestinian land 10:52  |  zingo 05/03/08
      24.   English and Russian Aristocracy religion 10:57  |  Eddie 05/03/08
      25.   WHAT IS IT? 10:58  |  Indrajaya 05/03/08
      26.   Sorry Buddy we are not for sale 11:05  |  SJ 05/03/08
      27.   this guy was backed by russians from scratch 11:17  |  stupid world 05/03/08
      28.   LEVIEV IS 100% RIGHT!!! 11:46  |  ktzin tzahal 05/03/08
      29.   The man is right!! 11:49  |  Israeli zionist 05/03/08
      30.   Zionism has alwys been bankrupt.. because it is a RACIST IDEOLOGY 11:50  |  TripleJump 05/03/08
      31.   #7 The Lion of Judah 11:50  |  Sam 05/03/08
      32.   savyon 11:53  |  "jean 05/03/08
      33.   Zionism is a Racist Ideology That Has No Place in Modern Society 12:06  |  Lev Bronstien 05/03/08
      34.   stop being sensitive - he is RIGHT accept the truth 12:07  |  S Judah 05/03/08
      35.   Israel Must Be A Jewish State & The Jews The Lords Of The Land 12:08  |  Joseph . E 05/03/08
      36.   Kind words ??? 12:16  |  Matteo 05/03/08
      37.   making aliya to London 12:22  |  shlomo 05/03/08
      38.   Zionism is bankrupt oo ye long ago 12:31  |  zion 05/03/08
      39.   Putin Wonderfull?? Are they not supporting Iran your ME rival? 12:34  |  Tupac 05/03/08
      40.   Lev Leviev did good in Israel 12:36  |  Dror 05/03/08
      41.   Dear Mr. Leviev (not yet Sir or Lord...)..... 12:51  |  Esther 05/03/08
      42.   Why Leviev? 12:53  |  Pathfinder 05/03/08
      43.   DKS "Yes, secular Israeli culture is so bankrupt" 13:05  |  Dror 05/03/08
      44.   #5 B`galil AMEN Perfectly true 13:20  |  petra 05/03/08
      45.   29 32 Who`s racist? 13:20  |  Gilad 05/03/08
      46.   To All Who Condem Zionism - You Don`t Know What It Is 13:36  |  B`Galil 05/03/08
      47.   emess 13:55  |  dovid 05/03/08
      48.   preaching by an oligarch 13:56  |  ari 05/03/08
      49.   hypocrite 14:00  |  ari 05/03/08
      50.   The Seperation of Religion and Corruption 14:23  |  Yaakov Sullivan 05/03/08
      51.   Reply # 5 That about just sums it all up 14:28  |  SJ 05/03/08
      52.   Leviev Is A Shrewd Busninessman 14:33  |  Yaakov Syullivan 05/03/08
      53.   The "American Religion" follows the true Rabbi of Israel 14:48  |  Virginia 05/03/08
      54.   He practices Judaism in a Bunker in Londistan 14:54  |  JMK 05/03/08
      55.   "Beirut , Damascus , Palestine` in Um Al-Faham" 14:55  |  What does yhis mean? 05/03/08
      56.   @ 34, Some day Joseph E., once they too have a Lord and He is 15:03  |  with them. 05/03/08
      57.   Leviev 15:27  |  Chayim 05/03/08
      58.   Yaakov Sullivan -- Leviev`s diamonds 15:28  |  zingo 05/03/08
      59.   Bankrupt zionism 15:30  |  Eli 05/03/08
      60.   #47 to jacob sullivan 15:32  |  just a jew 05/03/08
      61.   Number 4 - Jean van Daem 15:45  |  Bo Brummie 05/03/08
      62.   #48 SJ 15:48  |  Simon 05/03/08
      63.   Leviev, there is enough blame to go around... 15:48  |  bat yam 05/03/08
      64.   no. 42 15:56  |  right face 05/03/08
      65.   To all the envious TB the man has a point. 15:58  |  Norman 05/03/08
      66.   Zionism for Dummies (via Wikipedia) 16:11  |  Steve 05/03/08
      67.   Secular Jewish Culture/ Jerusalem 16:33  |  Geoffrey Holdsworth 05/03/08
      68.   Zionism is the result of Jewish self-hatred 16:35  |  Zalman Z 05/03/08
      69.   Zionism is bankrupt...... 16:43  |  David Hodara 05/03/08
      70.   #69 David Hodara 17:16  |  tbora 05/03/08
      71.   Norman & the rest 17:24  |  The Judge 05/03/08
      72.   leviev: big money big mouth big looser 17:41  |  Rafiq 05/03/08
      73.   Observance levels are an individual`s choice 17:59  |  ZISD 05/03/08
      74.   #50 YAAKOV SULLIVAN SATMAR AGENT en rte to gaza 18:13  |  Robert/Montreal 05/03/08
      75.   Re SJ #51 18:14  |  Esther 05/03/08
      76.   69tbora & his selective "isms" 18:15  |  curious 05/03/08
      77.   Zionism is alive an well 18:16  |  Russell Berns 05/03/08
      78.   #59 Eli you are right Am Y`Isroel chai! 18:21  |  Robert/Mtl zionist 05/03/08
      79.   zionism is the greatest threat to the peace of the planet! 18:21  |  lakshmi 05/03/08
      80.   #4 Jean Van Daem 18:32  |  Jim 05/03/08
      81.   #7 Prince 18:54  |  Jim 05/03/08
      82.   Rich as Korach, need not be as sinful... 18:59  |  Mike Darnell 05/03/08
      83.   Lev Leviev, stay humble 19:01  |  Chris 05/03/08
      84.   #80 Jim exactly what covenants do you think were broken? 19:16  |  Robert/Montreal 05/03/08
      85.   #46 B`Galil 19:49  |  Jim 05/03/08
      86.   WTF Mate? 20:08  |  Tziril Esther 05/03/08
      87.   #84 Robert/Montreal 20:30  |  Jim 05/03/08
      88.   #79 - stop spouting rhetoric. state your case. 20:39  |  Steve 05/03/08
      89.   4 jean van daem,Palestine is not yours either by historical or 21:04  |  lakshmi 05/03/08
      90.   #86 ESTHER G-D bLESS YOU 21:06  |  Robert/Montreal 05/03/08
      91.   #30 Triple Dump 21:17  |  Robert/Montreal 05/03/08
      92.   Leviev 21:17  |  Ronald 05/03/08
      93.   to Van Daem #4 `The land of Israel is ours...` 21:24  |  Colin Wright 05/03/08
      94.   re #35 `Israel Must Be A Jewish State & The Jews The Lords Of The 21:28  |  Colin Wright 05/03/08
      95.   Leviev should look in his backyard 21:47  |  5th generation 05/03/08
      96.   racist ideology has nothing to do with it. 21:52  |  hollingsworth 05/03/08
      97.   #92 Colin Yep do not forget Israel is the Jewish State. 22:33  |  Robert/Montreal 05/03/08
      98.   Zionism Is Okay But It Would Be Better If... 22:43  |  Yosemite 05/03/08
      99.   Lakshimi - moral right 22:51  |  Philip 05/03/08
      100.   Zionism is bunkrupt and leviev is a crook 23:55  |  Daniel 05/03/08
      101.   Just because he has money... 00:10  |  Ariel 06/03/08
      102.   American Religion? 00:26  |  Tovah 06/03/08
      103.   Jealous Jews 00:42  |  Dror 06/03/08
      104.   Religious Zionism is equally bankrupt 01:29  |  Joe 06/03/08
      105.   #84 Robert/Montreal 01:36  |  Jim 06/03/08
      106.   97 Philip,oh I agree,I was responding to post 4! 02:15  |  lakshmi 06/03/08
      107.   Leviev has too much money 02:41  |  hipolito 06/03/08
      108.   #95 Israel is a fiction 02:59  |  Shahid 06/03/08
      109.   To Jean van Daem 03:18  |  oetis 06/03/08
      110.   104 Shahid&105 oetis;in 1947 the newly liberated countries voted 03:53  |  lakshmi 06/03/08
      111.   Lev - Please return home to Israel! 10:16  |  Albert Edelson 06/03/08
      112.   TO PHILIP #99 05:08  |  Steve Beikirch 07/03/08
      113.   Christian Zionists 04:05  |  Steve 11/03/08
      114.   I agree With Leviev 17:43  |  Joe 20/12/08
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