Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Asks Ukrainians Not to Use Old Word for Jews

Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Moshe Reuven Asman asked Ukrainians not to use the word “zhyd” [old: Jew] in public, he said to Forum Daily, reported Gazeta.ua.

“People using today the word 'zhyd' do it knowingly to offend Jews. People calling Jews 'zhydy' deliberately ruin the interethnic peace in our country. As the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine, I address all reasonable citizens of our country with the request not to use words which are offensive for Jews,” stressed the rabbi.

He added that “in the earlier centuries, the word 'zhyd' was really used simply to mean a Jew and it was not offensive in Ukraine and Poland. But it changed during the last 100-150 years and the word 'zhyd' assumed an offensive sense for Jews as a result. This word has been used for Jews by people willing to offend Jews or express a negative opinion of them.”