JTA "Reports" On The Current State Of Russian Jewry

The JTA has two articles on the current sate of KEROOR, Chabad's rival for control of Russia's Jewish community. In typical JTA fashion, the pieces leave out the dirty tricks from Putin and Chabad that helped ensure Chabad dominance, instead focusing on the weakness of KEROOR. Not a word about Rabbi Pichas Goldschmidt's expulsion from Russia or the other Putin-lead attacks on KEROOR, which, by the way, supports democracy – Chabad does not, which is why Putin supports Chabad.

Also notable is the JTA's inability to ask questions. Why are there so few non-Chabad rabbis in the FSU? Is it because they are badly mistreated by Chabad, as is the case with Rabbi Yaakov Bleich, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine? Or is it because YU and the haredim are loathe to work in Russia?

The JTA once did a piece on Chabad dirty tricks in the FSU. That reporter, perhaps the only reporter in the JTA with any talent or real world experience – was quickly marginalized because, it seems, JTA affiliated newspapers got too many complaints from Chabad rabbis and their wealthy supporters.

The JTA wants to be the news service of the entire Jewish people. To do so, it must learn how to cover stories, and how to stand up to community leaders. Of course, it will do neither.

JTA1 and JTA2.

 

Comments

[Max]

Disclosure: I worked in the FSU for Chabad and left (B"H).

I actually speak Russian and had enough exposure to both sides to know that they are very "worthy" of each other.

Goldschimdt, even by the "misnagdishe" supporters is known as a non-stable power fiend. After years out there I have not met anyone who knew him that respected him as a human being. Seems to be a bit of a psychopath.

Bleich, according to people who worked for him, is a story in corrution and "other unmentionables". He is as "elected" to be the chief rabbi as any shliah and Goldschmitd for that matter. I.e not elected at all, self appointed and propped by people with a lot of money and a lot less scrupples which suits him just fine.

The question of harrasment: It's hard to say who does it more. On the non-Chabad side it can include all sorts of bogus "conventions", behind closed door meetings with "VIP" and local community leaders, cooption of Sochnut etc., all for the sole purpose is to harass and boot out the shliah.

Not getting into "is this a worth while persuit" question - but the dirtiness of tactics and the sliminess of it all often boggled my Americanized sensibility. And it's all done Leshem Shamaim, ofcourse.

My point is simple: A) one should be fair. B) It is naive to play "Chabad sucks" therefore those who fight it are the good guys. They all play the same dirty game. Few have scrupples. They are not accountable to anyone, they care not for their communities nor for any sort of a democracatic values. And a lot of them are just plain
wackos. Therefore, instead of agitating A vs. B (where both sides are equally terrible) I think it's a lot more constructive/productive to advocate for accountability and transparency etc. The same thing that we at least demand here. In the FSU these are still foreign ideas.

I think that the local Jews are slowly waking up to the fact that they will have to take charge of their communities and leadership. Unfortunately, a lot of this waking up is done by Jews (businessman) with money and brains but very little knowledge of Judaism. And the communities that they seem to want to create (outside of social services) will probably not go far beyond the corporate JCC model. But this is a different topic.

Why are there so few non-Chabad people there?

It's tough out there. There is actually a plethora of non-Chabad activity relative to the numbers of involved Jews in the major centers but on the periphery its a different story.
Very few non-Chabad people are actully crazy enough to subject themselves to what they call life out there, especially without the support network that Chabad provides for shluchim. And money does not fall from the sky even in Russia. The bears that roam the streets there get it first it seems.