Moscow Chief Rabbi returns to Russia

London - 8-Dec-05

The Conference of European rabbis is delighted to announce that the Chairman of its Standing Committee, Chief Rabbi and Av Beit Din of Moscow, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt Shlita, will shortly rejoin his family and community in Moscow.

Rabbi Goldschmidt had previously been stripped of his visa shortly before Rosh Hashana despite working for more than 15 years in Russia. Following intense diplomatic activity by the CER, foreign governments and international Jewish organisations, Rabbi Goldschmidt was finally granted a new visa on December 6. CER President, Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, said he was delighted at the news and expressed a wish to thank "all those in the diplomatic community and Jewish organisations who have worked so tirelessly over the last three months on behalf of Rabbi Goldschmidt."