Washington Jewish Week - 05.23.2002

 

Washington Jewish Week

Progress, Problems in Russia

With President George W. Bush's plane expected to touch down in Russia today, American Jewish leaders are hoping he will convey their concerns.

"The good news is that Moscow is exerting more control over the country and that's important for the rule of law and the establishment of civil society," said NCSJ chair Harold Luks.

Rabbi Levi Shemtov, director of the Washington office of the American Friends of Lubavitch hailed "increased sensitivity on the part of the government" in Russia over the past few years.

Russian arms deals with Iran, however, have long been a thorn in the side of its relations with the United States -- as well as a potential threat to Iran's neighbor, Israel.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee claims Russia has supplied engines, guidance systems and warhead technologies for Iranian missiles, and has rebuilt a nuclear reactor that offers cover for Iran's nuclear weapons.

Luks sees Russia as facing a crucial economic choice in this regard.

"Do they really want to be a part of the West?" asked Luks, noting the opportunity for Russia to join the World Trade Organization, or instead "make what some may see as a quick buck selling weapons technology to Iran."

Two rival groups, the Russian Jewish Congress and the Federation of Jewish Communities of the Commonwealth of Independent States, represent Russian Jewry, with the latter the favorite of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Bush has slated a visit to St. Petersburg's Choral Synagogue, which is affiliated with the Federation and the Lubavitch movement.

"Jews in Russia should be free and able to decide for themselves the structure of their community," Luks said. "I hope the president will continue to deliver this message in clear unambiguous terms to the officials he meets with."

Shemtov contended that most of Russia's full-time rabbis come from the Lubavitch movement, as does the country's government-appointed chief rabbi, Berel Lazar.

"I take issue when people take problems from the American Jewish community and reflect them into the Russian Jewish community," Shemtov said.

Protecting the parsonage exemption

President Bush signed legislation Monday that protects the "parsonage exemption," which permits members of the clergy to receive a tax-free allowance for housing. Supporters say the exemption is particularly important in rural areas, where houses of worship would be less able to compensate for the exemption's loss, making it harder to attract clergy.

The law is intended to clarify and codify the intent of Congress in creating the exemption in 1921. It also could lead to a settlement of a California appeals court case that has questioned whether the exemption is an unconstitutional establishment of religion. A coalition of Orthodox Jewish groups have written a friend of the court brief supporting the exemption's constitutionality.