Putin Gives Lazar Medal In Quid Pro Quo – Payback For Notorious Auschwitz Medal Ceremony?

Russia's president Vladamir Putin has given his hand-picked 'chief rabbi' Berel Lazar a medal:

MOSCOW, Russia – Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar has been honored with the Medal "60 Years of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945". He received the medal during the 19th session of the Russian 'Pobeda' (Victory) Organizational Committee.

The diploma, which is attached to this medal and signed by Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin, reads "this medal is being awarded for having taken an active role in the patriotic education of citizens, as well as making a great contribution in preparing for the Victory Anniversary celebrations".

Founded in 2000 and headed by President Vladimir Putin, the Russian 'Pobeda' Organizational Committee involves prominent politicians, scholars, military leaders, as well as public and religious figures of the Russian Federation. This united body's activity is aimed at commemorating the 'Defenders of the Fatherland' – those who have fought for one's country. In addition to presenting this award, this Committee's latest session involved a discussion of the body's future activity.

The "great contribution in preparing for the Victory Anniversary celebrations" clearly referrs to the notorious Auschwitz medal ceremony where Lazar 'awarded' Putin with a medal while standing over the ashes of millions of murdered Jews.

Chabad, have you no shame?

Comments

[Avodas Avoda]

Putin hasn't hurt the Jewish community. Apparently R' Lazar doesn't think that the anti-semitic incidents aren't related to the Putin government. (Why would they be?) So R' Lazar has made the politically intelligent decision to become close to Putin. The effect of that decision has been a great growth in Chabad activity in Russia. More Jews than ever in Russia are a.) getting bris milah b.) wearing Tefillin c.) going to mikvah d.) keeping Shabbos (partially if not fully) e.) attending Sedarim on Pesach, etc. etc. etc.

Are you against that, Shmarya? Jews doing Jewish things? Is it an aveira to put on Chabad tefillin and say Shma?

That Putin has given R' Lazar a medal should not be scandalous. It shows that Chabad is, more and more, becoming a household name in the world. The wellsprings have spread out to (almost) every corner of the world.

Oh no, Shmarya! What are we going to do?!?! Those Lubavitchers are doing MITZVOS! We can't have that! They're even getting OTHER JEWS to do MITZVOS! We have to stop them. I know how. Lets build a hateful website and put a lot of slime all over the place. That'll stop them.

[Shmarya]

Lazar grows by pushing out the competition in unhalakhic ways. And he grows by helping Putin crush Putin's political opponents.

Read about the Auschwitz medal. Lazar is far from honest, far from pure and far from what a rabbi should be.

[Avodas Avoda]

I read your post about the medal. I don't see what the big deal is. The other stuff (about pushin out the competition, etc) is an accusation you make without providing much evidence. At the end of the day, Chabad is saving Russian Jewry; and you're running an hate site.

[Shmarya]

See here:
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/court_jews_quislings/index.html

and here:
http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/territorial_disputes/index.html

(Make sure to scroll down both of the pages.)

[Isa]

Chabad made a mistake when they gave Putin a medal. Chabad should have given TWO medals to Putin. I admire an outfit (that I may have some problems with) with a great political move.
Putin remembers his friends. more over he remembers his enemies even better.