Just before the war he prayed for peace
Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt (58) criticizes the Kremlin, flees Moscow – and is re-elected
The Russian authorities are asking the population to support the war in Ukraine. Moscow’s chief rabbi, Pinchas Goldschmidt, refuses, flees to Israel – and is nevertheless re-elected.
Pinchas Goldschmidt (58) has recently been living in exile. Born in Zurich, the Chief Rabbi of Moscow spent more than 30 years of his life in the Russian capital. In early March, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he left the city for the Israeli capital. At first it was said that Goldschmidt was in Jerusalem because of his elderly father. It is now clear that the chief rabbi left the city because Moscow demanded that he publicly support the war.
The daughter-in-law confirms this on twitter. The American journalist Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt writes that her in-laws are now away from the community that they love so much, it hurts. Goldschmidt moved to Moscow in 1989 to establish Jewish communities and raised seven children there. He has always openly stated his concerns. So recently shortly before the war in an interview with the magazine Tachles: “We pray for peace. There’s not much more we can do in this situation.”
re-election in absentia
Russia has been waging a war of aggression in Ukraine for months. The Russian authorities also enforce strict censorship in their own country and require the population to support the war – or at least not to object publicly. The Jewish communities are under pressure because many Jews are fleeing Moscow. Fear of repression has been circulating among Kremlin critics for years. Goldschmidt will not be the last example, especially since he is not one of the most important critics of the Kremlin.
Because Goldschmidt refuses to support the war in Ukraine, efforts have recently been made in Moscow to replace the rabbi. But Goldschmidt was confirmed in his office as chief rabbi of Moscow for a further seven years at the beginning of the week. The election took place in his absence at the Choral Synagogue in the Russian capital.
Goldschmidt’s residence permit for Russia was revoked in 2005. Only several weeks later did he get a new visa for Russia. So it’s not the first time that Goldschmidt doesn’t live in Russia. But this time it’s under pressure. Now he will take care of his congregation in Moscow from Israel.