Following the publication of the article by the assistant to the head of the Russian National Security Council, Alexei Pavlov, which included serious anti-Semitic statements, including calling Chabad Hasidism a "neo-pagan sect," the website where the article was published published a letter from the head of the Russian National Security Council, Nikolai Patrushev, in which he completely disavows his assistant's words.
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The website states: "An article by Assistant Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Alexei Pavlov was published, dedicated to the religious situation in Ukraine. In it, in particular, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement was called a sect.".
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""These statements in the publication offended some of our readers. In this regard, the editors of 'AiF' received a letter from the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev, in which he wrote the following:
""An article published in the weekly Argumenty i Fakty by Assistant Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation A.A. Pavlov contained incorrect lines about Lubavitch followers.
""I apologize to the readers of the publication and would like to note that this interpretation reflects the personal point of view of A.A. Pavlov and in no way is the official position of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.".
Patrushev added: "Relevant work was done with the author of the article.".
The Jewish communities in Russia issued a strong condemnation of an article published by Pavlov about "neo-pagan sects," which, according to the author, are actively spreading in Ukraine.
The Chief Rabbi of Russia, Rabbi Berel Lazar, published a scathing letter of response, in which he wrote: "What is really happening in the religious life of the neighboring country, I do not know for sure - but, unfortunately, the article contains a position that is difficult to perceive otherwise - other than an insult to millions of believing Jews, including the vast majority of Jews in Russia. 'The main principle of life of the Lubavitch Hasidim is the superiority of the sect's supporters over all peoples' - Mr. Pavlov claims without basis.".
Rabbi Lazar adds: "First of all, it should be noted that 'Lubavitch Hasidism', the religious movement of Chabad, is not a 'sect', but an accepted path in Judaism. Moreover, today it is the largest movement within Chassidism. It should be noted that 90% of the rabbis working in the Jewish communities of Russia belong to Chabad, and I myself am also a Lubavitch Hasid!
""As for Chabad ideology, contrary to Mr. Pavlov's fabrications, it resolutely rejects idolatry, while at the same time respectfully supporting all religions that teach faith in one God. To understand this, it is enough to be familiar with the practice in Chabad communities in Russia and around the world that a significant part of the movement's social, cultural and educational projects are intended not only for Jews, but for everyone - and this can be seen in the Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center that we established in Moscow, which is regularly visited by groups of visitors regardless of nationality or religion, and the vast majority of the school students who visit it are not Jews at all.".
Rabbi Lazar emphasized: "One can call Mr. Pavlov's logic nonsense, anti-Semitism, and vulgarity and ignore it, but this is a new type of old, bloody slander, and if it is uttered by a member of the Russian Security Council, it poses a huge danger, and therefore, we demand an immediate and unequivocal response from society and the state authorities," the Chief Rabbi demands in his pointed letter, which is being published today in all media outlets in Russia.
In an article published by Alexei Pavlov, he wrote, among other things: "Since the 1990s, the number of adherents of religious sects has doubled in Ukraine. A powerful impetus for this was the coup in Kiev in 2014, the operatives planted by Washington in the seats of power implemented the tasks that flowed across the ocean.
""For example, the first prime minister "after Maidan", Arseniy Yatsenyuk, is a follower of the Church of Scientology, which was banned in Russia as a totalitarian sect. Igor Kolomoisky is a follower of Lubavitch-Chabad, and a follower of the Haredi religious movement. The main life principle of Lubavitch Hasidism is the superiority of the sect's supporters over all peoples and nations.
""A number of other Ukrainian oligarchs belong to this movement, notably Viktor Pinchuk, son-in-law of Ukraine's second president Kuchma, author of the book 'Ukraine is not Russia.'".
