Stavropol, Russia – The Stavropol Territory Court has upheld the verdict by a Stavropol district court, ordering the administrative expulsion of the Stavropol chief rabbi, Canadian citizen Tzvi Hershkowitz, from Russia.
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The territory court has thus rejected the rabbi’s appeal against the Stavropol district court ruling. The judgment was issued on March 24.
The local FSB (Federal Security Service) branch accused Hershkowitz of “breaching the residence registration regulations” by failing to notify the migration authorities of his new residence address within three days.
“The Russian Jewish Community is outraged by the court ruling. Such a decision shows once again that neither the local authorities, nor the judicial system are paying enough attention to the regional work of the Jewish clergy, thus seeking, whether willingly or unwillingly, the review of Russia’s inter-confessional map,” FJCR President Alexander Boroda commented on the court ruling.
This is not the first time when a court has ruled on the expulsion of foreign rabbis. In February a court in Vladivostok’s Pervorechensky district ruled on the expulsion from Russia of the chief Primorye rabbi, U.S. citizen Isroel Silberstein, for violating the regulations for foreigners staying in the country, (as was reported at that time here on VIN News), the purpose of stay, stated in the rabbi’s visa, conflicted with his real activities.
Oy Zvi!!!! What will be???
You were doing such amazing work over there!
Don’t mess with a Hershkowitz…Bobby from upstairs is looking after you…
I am a bochur in a smicha program at a Chabad shul in Florida.
I read that missing post, and recognized that he was referring to us.
I have one question. Since when did we started calling names so easily. The writer obviously did not agree with something we did or do. He was careful not to call us by name. Why does anyone call him a Jew hater?
I don’t agree with every single thing we do either. Does that make me a Jew hater?
I believe our smicha program is much too easy and should be more rigorous. Does that make me a Jew Hater?
I believe we are wrong not to even consider eating other Chassidishe shechita, especially those which are certainly as kosher as ours. Does that make me a Jew hater?
Just because he does not agree does not make him a Jew hater.
In fact, when I read it, my thoughts were, “Look, he did not mention Chabad. We kind of know who he is talking about. But he was nice enough to leave the name off.”
All the things he mentioned have been discussed by us and debated until 3am untill we all are shouting at each other. What did he say wrong. For all I know, that poster could have been my chevrusa here! and posted from this computer in the Chabad house.
Yes it was me. Funny my chevrusa came to me and told me he thought I posted on this topic and the post was removed. I did not get to see it up.
I wrote saying that our shluchim need to follow the rules of the land where we are guests, and if we don’t, if we flaunt and ignore the laws of the land, we deserved to be expelled.
Being shluchim of The Rebbe does not mean breaking the law.
Being shluchim of The Rebbe, in my opinion, means we should jump through all hoops they ask us to, and do it their way. If they refuse to allow us more than one year, let’s say, then rotate our the shaliach after that year. Don’t break the law by just sitting there in defiance of the laws.
The fact that the Russian laws are not like we want them to be, or that they are KGB like, does not change that. Chabad may originate in Russia, but is it not our country. We do not govern it. We must respect their laws and obey their government’s rules.
And, yes, we do often have an arrogance which actually embarrasses me.
BS”D
I lived in Russia for 13 years and now live in Ukraine. I know what this is about.
These laws are very selectively enforced and are NOT grounds for deportation. They are grounds for a fine (official or otherwise) and in worst cases, temporary expulsion with the ability to come back on the correct papers.
Usually when this happens there is someone, either a local anti-Semite or, worse, a secular Jewish organization, that wants Chabad (or Aguda for that matter) out.
Alternately, it may mean that every shaliach is now on his own in Russia and can no longer rely on Lazar and Moscow to handle these affairs, so that they have to make sure they are in with the local government as is the case in Ukraine.
To 12. umm, doest putin work under lazar? 🙂
Just so it’s clear. Russian law makes it nearly impossible for Jewish clergy to obtain residency or proper visas.
In fact, there is no option in the Russian visa application form offered, which is for religious outreach or anything of the sort. Which means, that a person going to Russia to be a Rabbi is totally illegal. There is no such visa offered.
Therefore, Rabbi Zvi Hershcovich, an upright and honest Rabbi (and yes, perhaps I’m being biased… I am his brother!!!!) and one of the most extremely caring people I know was required to fill out his visa form as “Cultural director” and not “Rabbinical clergy”… There was no other option and that was the closest thing to what he was doing.
That’s also what is going on with Rabbi Yisroel Silberstein.
About the address change. Zvi has absolutely no arrogance with regard to Shlichus and Rebbe… Anyone that ever knew him will definitely testify to that. He was and is vehemently opposed to the abuse of power that some Lubavicher’s tend to attempt at.
He registered everything… But even the authorities made it seem like a small deal. That he just needs to put in his residence address. They didn’t make it seem like such an important factor!
When he moved residences, he simply didn’t see registering again, which is a long and expensive process as such an important thing. Especially since the authorities themselves had made it seem more ceremonious than neccessary.
At the end of the day, it is all a scandal from one of the Russian officials of the town, who is upset that Zvi enforces Yiddishkeit with the authentic rules that Torah mandates for Yidden. Like not recognizing Goyim with Jewish fathers as Jews… Something that the ignorant community has been doing for the past 20 years etc…
If only you were invited to his blog… You would see the ‘other side of the story’, with the proofs of letters from this Russian Jewish official and the rest of the community, demanding his acceptance back into Russia.
A list of 200 Jews from Stavropol, written to the government, demanding Zvi’s right to return and help build their community as real Yidden… While a single signature of one single ‘self hating’ Russian Jew causes so much havoc and chaos ni their city.
May he go back quickly and easily… He should even be there for Pesach. After all, Didan Notzach!!
You’re right… But those are not grounds for deportation on any countries terms!!! When will the world see??!!!
If they’d have sentenced such a thing to the death penalty, would you have said your ignorant ‘ta’aneh’??
“I understand he feels forced to, but he’s still breaking the law… Perhaps death is justified” DUH!!! How silly are you??!!!
Don’t you realize that this Rabbi, his wife and two children are homeless now???
You’re right… But those are not grounds for deportation on any countries terms!!! When will the world see??!!!
If they’d have sentenced such a thing to the death penalty, would you have said your ignorant ‘ta’aneh’??
“I understand he feels forced to, but he’s still breaking the law… Perhaps death is justified” DUH!!! How silly are you??!!!
Don’t you realize that this Rabbi, his wife and two children are homeless now???