AP
Moscow – Russian President Vladimir Putin is suggesting that a vast collection of Jewish books and documents that is the focus of a dispute between Moscow and Washington be given a permanent home in the Russian capital’s new Jewish Museum.
A U.S. judge in January ordered that Russia be fined $50,000 a day until it turns over the so-called Schneerson Collection to Chabad Lubavitch, a Hasidic movement within Orthodox Judaism headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Russia claims the collection is state property. Putin on Tuesday criticized the ruling, saying “discussion of this problem has taken on elements of confrontation,” Russian news agencies reported. The collection is now held at the state library and military archives.
Putin said he would consider ordering the collection be placed at the Jewish museum, which opened last year.
When this first came out, the Russians came up with some petty excuses why they would not let go of the sefarim. But some wise guy said like this, “You see, Rabbi Schneerson was a great Russian philosopher. He taught us to rule our hearts with our minds. If everyone would do that, this would be a better world – no wars, famines, etc. Being that he was a Russian philosopher, so where do the books belong?” I know, these are private belongings, and the true heirs have a right to do what THEY want with them. But then, some… Read more »
In 1992 I was working in Russia and had many personal meeting with Vladimir Volfovich Zhirinovsky, a Russian politician and political activist. He is colonel of the Russian Army, founder and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Vice-Chairman of the State Duma, and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. My meetings were not in any way connected with the Seforim, however, we were friendly and our discussions covered many topics. One day, Mr. Zhirinovsky closed the door of his office and said he wishes to discuss the Seforim issue with me.… Read more »
I a not sure that most of you realize that every day that the sforim remain in the library is dangerous. The sforim are slowly being sold by the library under the clause that they already have a single copy of the book elsewhere. While keeping it in Russia is not a final solution, it may be a very vital step on the way and allows the Russian government to have an honorable exit from the situation.
as the rebbe advised with building a mikva in russia. not always making a ‘big noise’ is the key to a solution
Pharoh tried to negotiate with Moses too, b like Moses and stick to your guns Berel! We will yet see didan notzach!
Lets not forget the Rebbeh knew how to deal with Russians the rebbeh did not agree with mayer Kahana that with demonstration against Russia you get something and as L’havdil president Nixon explained that it was through diplomacy then when the Sfarim came from Poland we thanked the polish government in the NYT LAT WP in the early 90s there could’v been a chance today all these court cases senate hearings are nice pictures for Chasidim lets not forget Putin is not a chosid he did not learn in Detroit and he is the first Russian leader under whose tenure… Read more »
#10 it has the same significnae as the mitzriyim who hid yosefs bones in the Nile. They wanted him there to bring hatzlochoh.
Make a room at the museum under and with the name of Aguch on it. This will make everyone happy. The Rebbe only wanted that the books should belong to Aguch. It was never about location.
For all those paranoic about Russia keeping Jewish Sforim, answer 3 questions:
Did you hear about Leningrad Codex?
Where is it kept?
For how long?
I do not envy him. He is stuck now. On one hand he wants to be on good terms with Putin, and rightfully so – and yet on the other hand he knows what the Rebbe really wants with the Sefarim that they should be in it’s rightful home at Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters in 770 till Moshiach comes.
About 20 years ago in Odessa we did not have enough sforim to study, especially after synagogue had collapsed. We had to dig out sforim from geniza, the paper seemed to be made from dust, staffing our noses, and was crashing in hands. I had to visit Moscow so I had to go to Marina roscha, The first scene I see – American bochurim loading up a van with boxes. They told me they are taking sforim to the Rebbe. I asked if there were any for Odessa bochurim, they did not seem to care much. This frustrated me to… Read more »
In modern history there hasn`t been a leader as warm and supportive to the Jewish community. And when you look at the Rubashkin case and other behaviors America may not be as friendly as we wish to believe. Putin knows the value of the seforim and he`s not our enemy.
I was present at the time the suggestion was put to the
Rebbe, the negative reaction was very strong and very
clear: The seforim belong here in 770 together with all the other seforim. די ספרים באליינגען דא אין 770 צוזאמען מיט אלע
אנדערע ספרים ניט ערגיץ אנדערש
If i remember correctly i saw a letter that there were shluchim that were going to do shlichus in russia and they asked if they should get involved with the seforim and the Rebbe answered as a question what connection is there between the 2 Meaning that those that are involved in shlichus in russia should not be involved with getting the seforim back
why do they even want them? it has no significance to them.
the rebbe would never agree i belive r lazar has 2 fight 4 the sforim till they r back in 770
that every Chabad House is an extension of 770
If you read the answer carefully (in Levin’s yoman) you will see that the Rebbe says “If … than that shouldn’t be an option” but NOT that it is not an option at all.
Plus once it’s there maybe it can be moved between snifim etc.
life takes its terns, this could be a solution for now and lets get on with life and see what we have been missing!
It’s a good compriise. Everyone gets to claim victory.
I have no doubt the Rebbe would be displeased with Putin’s “comprimise”.
Divrei Tzaddikim kiyomim Le’ad
The negotiations need to continue with discretion but with firmness.
Yiddishe Sholtz.!
The Rebbe wanted the seforim in 770!!
just give us our books back and pay up mr.!
He is the most powerful man alive today…. Putin.. And Lazar needs to play an extremely delicate balancing act with him..