Rabbi Moshe Reuven Azman: There is no Ethnic or Religious Hatred in Ukraine

There are no signs of anti-Semitism in Ukraine. Regardless of their origin, Ukrainians are uniting to counter a common threat, Moshe Reuven Azman, Chabad Chief Rabbi of Kyiv and Ukraine said during a briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center.

‘We should draw a distinction between nationalism and Nazism. Nationalism is loving one’s own people, and Nazism is hating others. There is no anti-Semitism in Ukraine’, was Azman’s comment to the Russian propagandists’ claims about the rampage of fascism, Nazism and anti-Semitism in Ukraine.

‘There were different people at Maidan representing different parties’, said Rabbi, ‘Maidan Self-Defense provided security for the synagogue. We were given walkie-talkies so we could communicate. In return, Israel provided medical treatment to several Euromaidan activists who were injured’.

According to him, Ukrainian Jewish communities are under no threat. ‘A week ago, together with the head of the Ukrainian Jewish Congress Vadim Rabinovich, we made phone calls to all regional communities’, explained Azman, ‘We talked to Rabbis. There has been no reports from any of them about any antisemitic statements being made’.

Moshe Reuven Azman is the envoy of the Lubavich Rabbi, holder of top awards from the Urkainian Jewish Community and the United Jewish Community of Ukraine.  In 2005 Mr. Azman was elected Chief Rabbi of Ukraine.He is the Rabbi of the Brodski Synagogue in Kyiv.