Moscow Chief Rabbi Denied Entry to Russia

Brussels - 27-Sep-05

The Conference of European Rabbis expresses its profound concern over the decision by Russian authorities to revoke the valid visa of Moscow Chief Rabbi, Pinchas Goldschmidt, preventing him from returning to his family and community.

Rabbi Goldschmidt, who is Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Conference of European Rabbis, was denied entry into Russia on Monday evening at Moscow Airport and had his visa revoked. A Swiss citizen, Rabbi Goldschmidt was immediately placed on a return flight to Israel.

Coming just days before the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement, the most holy days of the Jewish calendar, Rabbi Goldschmidt’s expulsion calls into question the commitment of the Russian Federation and its leadership to adequately protect Jewish rights.

“We would hope that this action resulted from an administrative error, and we call upon the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to immediately allow Rabbi Goldschmidt to return to his family and community in Moscow in time for the Jewish New Year,” said CER-President Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, Chief Rabbi of France.

“Rabbi Goldschmidt has devoted almost two decades to the revival of a vibrant Jewish life in Russia. It is unacceptable that he should be treated in such a disgraceful manner,” Chief Rabbi Sitruk added.

The CER welcomes the involvement of the diplomatic community and international Jewish organisations in working to persuade the Russian authorities to overturn this iniquitous ruling.

The Conference of European Rabbis federates Jewish religious leaders in over forty European countries and includes all the continent’s Chief Rabbis and senior rabbinical judges. It possesses official NGO-status at the Council of Europe and within the institutions of the European Union.