By Vestnik Kavkaza
Last year, the Jewish community took a firm position in the struggle against xenophobia and anti-Semitism.
“Unfortunately, fascist marches take place in the Baltic republics annually. We condemn them. We manage to form a general public opinion, but unfortunately they take place annually. And we hope that next year it won’t happen and our voice will be heard not only in the countries where such marches are supported, but also in the EU which could take administrative measures against such phenomena and reconsideration of the results of the Second World War, rehabilitation of fascism, rehabilitation of those who supported fascists, I mean collaborators,” Alexander Boroda, the president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, says.
The main project of the Jewish community was tolerance centers which appeared in 11 cities of Russia. “We understand that these centers cannot solve the whole problem,” Boroda says. “In the next stage we plan to give our content to the Ministry of Education and supervise lessons which should be launched in schools and universities. Considering the fact that the content was developed, I think it was done skillfully, right on time, very interesting for children and young people, it creates an important thing. It forms a discussion on the basis of problems of tolerance.”
As for important political events of 2013, Boroda pointed out giving Schneerson’s library to the Jewish Museum and the Center of Tolerance: “It is a scandalous question which has a foreign political character. Some trials against the Russian state are taking place in America; and the decision made by our President to give Scheneerson’s library to us is a way out in the situation. The most important thing the library will be open for our readers. At the moment it is being digitized. When digitalization is ended, it will be available for everybody in Internet. A person can read original books in our library. The process is taking place, according to the schedule of the Russian State Library.”
Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, thinks that one of the main events of 2014 will be the Olympics in Sochi. “The Interreligious Council organizes prayer houses and rooms for every religion. In addition, it very important for us that kosher food will be provided for athletes and for guests. It is not easy, because so far in Sochi, unfortunately, there were no kosher restaurants, kosher kitchen until now. There is a full understanding that religion is at an important place, and all the rituals and needs of a traditional man are provided today, and people can feel comfortable.”
