Itamar Eichner reports in Ynetews.com:
The chief rabbi of Russia made a secret visit to Tehran almost half a year ago as part of a larger mission dispatched by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.
Rabbi Berel Lazar, who enjoys a close relationship with the Russian leader, was part of the delegation headed by Vyacheslav Viktorovich Volodin, who has served as chairman of the State Duma since 5 October 2016.
Lazar made the visit, which lasted a mere 24 hours, as part of a trip by the large Russian delegation which held a series of discussions in the Iranian parliament.
The decision to include Lazar in the Russian mission was personally taken by President Putin, a move that was met with opposition from Iran.
Despite the objections, Russia is said to have made the delegation’s visit dependent on Lazar’s participation as Tehran and Moscow seek to improve trade relations.
During the visit which took place on April 9, immediately after the Jewish holiday of Passover, Rabbi Lazar departed with one of his assistants, bringing with them kosher food for the plane journey.
Rabbi Lazar took the opportunity during his brief soujourn to pay a visit to Jewish community institutions in Tehran.
He visited the central synagogue in the capital, along with a Jewish school, which employs some Shi’ite Muslim women teachers who wear the Hijab.
Hanging on the walls of the Jewish schools were also biblical quotes in Hebrew, juxtaposed alongside portraits of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, an avowed enemy of Israel.
During his visit, Rabbi Lazar’s activities were strictly restricted to assisting the Jewish community and to ensuring that Jews were able to observe laws of kashrut in the Shi’ite Islamic republic.
He met with Jewish community leaders in Tehran, heard of some of the difficulties faced by some of the members and watched Jewish children making their way to community centers to eat breakfast before beginning their day at school.
You have no idea what you’re talking about. Iran has executed many Jews for the crime of being Jewish. Read about Habib_Elghanian for example. They also deny the Holocaust and promote the very worst forms of anti-Semitism through their media.
Even Hitler forced Jews to tell the Red Cross and international reporters that they were being treated well.
Jews under the worst regimes were forced to declare how “loved and protected” they were. I remember how Rabbi Rosen a”h used to travel the world telling everyone how wonderful things were for the Jews in Romania. Everyone understood that he meant the opposite.
If so why would they want a Chabad shliach to be excluded from a group going there?
My wife spent 10 days last year throughout ROSH HASHANAH in IRAN.
ali khameni is against israel not jews. the jews in iran are loved and protected by the government and have equal rigts. BH this article demonstrated this.
Rabbi B Lazar is a unique and special person who deserves the most credit for what he is doing.
proud to know him and to always be awed by his achievements
Kol Hakavod
Kol hakavod Rabbi Lazar. You are doing so much for the Jews of Russia and now for Iran as well. Thank you for all your service to the Jewish community.