Moscow Times - 03.22.2001

 

The Moscow Times

Putin Replaces Rabbi

The Associated Press

President Vladimir Putin replaced the rabbi who previously represented Russian Jews on a Kremlin advisory council with a rival from an ultra-Orthodox movement, a Kremlin spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The spokeswoman declined to comment on why Putin booted Adolf Shayevich, who represents mainstream religious Jews, from the presidential council on religious organizations in favor of Berl Lazar of the New York-based Chabad Lubavitch movement.

Both Shayevich and Lazar claim the largely symbolic title of chief rabbi of Russia. Lazar is backed by the Federation of Jewish Communities, which was founded last year reportedly at the Kremlin's bidding.

Shayevich said his exclusion was connected to the Kremlin's conflict with Vladimir Gusinsky, who heads the Russian Jewish Congress. That organization is partnered with the Congress of Jewish Religious Communities and Organizations, which Shayevich heads.