Ukraine's "Chief Rabbi" Controversy Continues

Chabad's "chief rabbi" of the Ukraine, Azriel Chaikin, meets with Cossack leaders.

The Baltimore Jewish Times reports:

The dispute escalated a few days after the Sumy opening, when a majority of Ukrainian rabbis blasted the election of a new chief rabbi -- the country's third -- as illegitimate. More than 30 Chabad rabbis affiliated with the federation issued a statement Sept. 15 saying that the election of another Chabad rabbi, Moshe Reuven Azman of Kiev, to serve as Ukraine's chief rabbi was "illegitimate" and "insulting to the feelings of every believer."

A chief rabbi "can be elected only by rabbis working in Jewish communities of that country," the statement said, referring to the fact that Azman's election Sept. 11 was endorsed by a group of secular Jewish leaders but not by any rabbinical authority.

The vast majority of rabbis permanently working in Ukraine these days are Chabad rabbis affiliated with the federation. Unlike other Orthodox rabbis working in Ukraine, Azman, who is Russian-born, is not affiliated with the federation and for years has received support from [Oligarch Vadim] Rabinovich, who initiated the election for chief rabbi.

[Sumy Jewish community leader Alexander] Goron, for his part, says he and the rest of Sumy's Jewish leaders aren't interested in the kind of power struggle that has plagued Jewish communities in larger Ukrainian and Russian cities.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's (second) (Chabad) chief rabbi Azriel Chaikin met with Cossack leaders.

The long-serving and original post-communism chief rabbi Yakov Bleich has been largely silent, busy working on the many programs he founded over the years to serve Ukrainian Jews. The man needs a good press agent.

Comments

[Adam Neira]

Hopefully whoever the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine is, he will be a rightous person who cares about all the citizens of the Ukraine. Many people have no idea about the terrible suffering and death the good people of Ukraine experienced in the famines of the 1930's when millions of people died. That part of the world has been through enormous trauma. It deserves a peaceful and prosperous future.

As an example of Jews who commit crimes against the nation they dwell in, and who have not interest in the general welfare of the population, the recent Khodorkhovsky case in Ukraine's neighbour, Russia comes to mind.

Certain very wealthy individuals, who profited from these crimes against the Russian people, are trying to use the power/credibility of certain media outlets to advance their cause, and to assuage their guilt over the fact that he is in jail and they are free.

The new Chief Rabbi of Ukraine must carefully balance his views between the people of Ukraine and all of the Jews around the world, including in the Holy Land.

Peace and blessings to the good people of Ukraine !

Bleich is also a chabad born and bread rabbi. His uncle is HaRav Shmuel Lew. His brother is a big Moshiachist Shliach in Massachusets.

[Shmarya]

Bleich is a STOLINER hasid, as are his family.

Most of Shmuel Lew's siblings are NOT Chabad. (Only his sister, married to Rabbi Feller, is.)

Further, I know Shmuel Lew, and I know most of his siblings and some of their children, and I met Bleich briefly in Minnesota about 12 years ago.

Bleich's hevruta in the Stoliner yeshiva is a friend of mine.

Bleich is being screwed by Chabad, even with his connections.