Kesher Talk

Jews in odd places: Russia: Like most Russians, Russian Jews don't get along so well.

The failure of a plan billed by proponents as an attempt to overcome the split between Russian Jewry’s two main umbrella organizations again has highlighted their divisions. The short-lived initiative first surfaced in December and was dropped in January without much negotiation between the rival parties. The plan sought to create a single community structure to replace the two rival religious umbrella organizations, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, and the Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Communities.

The federation, Russia’s largest Jewish organization, is dominated by members of the Chabad Lubavitch organization and is run by Berel Lazar, one of Russia’s two chief rabbis, who was installed to his post four years ago with what many saw as support from the government.

The congress, which includes both Orthodox and Reform congregations, is allied with Adolf Shayevich, the longtime Russian chief rabbi. Shayevich was elected to this post a decade ago, before Chabad made great strides in winning the support of numerous communities across post-Soviet territory.

The stakes are high: Estimates of Russian Jewry run anywhere between 500,000 and 1 million people.

posted by William @ 3/10/2004 12:39:18 PM