5 months after leaving Moscow: Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt was removed

July 7, 2022   

A month after his term was extended by 7 years: The congregation of the Central Synagogue in Moscow has ousted Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, who left the Russian capital about five months ago after refusing to make a public statement supporting the Russian war in Ukraine. This was reported this evening (Thursday) by Itamar Eichner on the Ynet website. Initially, Rabbi Goldschmidt justified his departure by saying that he needed to take care of his sick father, who is hospitalized in Israel, but as was first revealed on Ynet a month ago, the real reason for his departure was pressure exerted on him to express support for the war. Rabbi Goldschmidt, who has served as the "Chief Rabbi of Moscow" for the past 33 years, was ousted after only about a month ago he was elected by the assembly of the members of the Central Synagogue congregation in Moscow for another 7-year term. His daughter-in-law, Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, confirmed the publication on Ynet and tweeted: "Rabbi Goldschmidt and his wife were pressured by the authorities to publicly support the special operation in Ukraine, but they refused to do so." The press secretary of the Jewish community in Moscow, Olga Yasaulova, denied that the rabbi was dismissed, claiming that he left his position after his contract expired. Alexander Kargin, the program director of the Moscow Central Synagogue, also said in an interview with Moscow Talks radio that Rabbi Goldschmidt's contract had expired. "There is no political subtext to the story," he said, "but there are members of the community, including me, who did not agree with the political statements he made. Such a dispute was voiced. But his contract was not terminated in this context. The contract expired and expired some time ago." According to the Ynet report, the community in Moscow said that the issue of Goldschmidt's successor is not currently being discussed in the community. The rabbi of the community's synagogue in Moscow is currently Rabbi David Yushoyev - who was appointed by Rabbi Goldschmidt as his replacement. In a message that Rabbi Goldschmidt sent to European rabbis and community leaders after the news was published - he wrote that he had resigned from the position and decided to leave. "After the fall of the Soviet Union, we did our best to navigate and build the community, starting from the challenging years of chaos during the era of President Yeltsin until now in the current era when authoritarian rule is tightening day by day. "When the terrible war of recent months in Ukraine began to unfold, it was difficult for us to see so much human suffering and sit idly by. We established an international fund to help refugees and I went to countries where entire communities fled with their belongings and institutions. As time went on, and despite being re-elected as Chief Rabbi last month, I realized that my continued service would endanger the Jewish community in Moscow. "As sad as I am about the circumstances, it is clear to me that my decision to leave now is for the good of the future of the community, and as President of the Conference of European Rabbis, I will continue to serve the rabbis and Jewish communities of Europe, including the Jewish community in Moscow, to the best of my ability. May God bless and protect the Jewish community of Moscow.".