Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar seals his lips on politics and puts his people first

Photos: Levi Nazarov

Just before my flight back to Israel from Moscow a few weeks ago, I finally sensed that tense feeling of war. It was around one-thirty a.m. and I went out for a stroll in Red Square. When I approached the Kremlin, which during my previous visits had been accessible to tourists, I discovered that it was surrounded by police barriers. Without thinking too much, I took out my phone and recorded a quick video clip with the Kremlin in the background.

“Here behind me,” I said, “you can see the Kremlin. In one of the buildings behind this wall sits President Putin, planning the next step in the war with Ukraine. After a day of visiting and talking to people in Russia, I can say that most of the Russian street supports Putin, but on the other hand, there is media censorship here.”

The words “Putin,” “Ukraine,” and “censorship” — understood in every language — were enough: Two stern-faced policemen hustled over to me. “The phone, please,” they barked. I thought of arguing, but Russia is not an ideal place to get into a tiff with law enforcement.

The Kremlin police demanded that I open the video gallery. “Delete it,” they pointed to the clip I had just taken. Then they made me go into the Recycle Bin and delete it there as well.

“Now, leave the area,” they ordered.

I did. What else could I do? I was just happy that this whole little incident had concluded with the erasure of the video and nothing worse.

On my way back, I passed Lubyakna Street and the massive historical KGB building. It spans half the street, and is illuminated with huge spotlights from every direction. Today, this is the headquarters of the Russian FSB — the modern incarnation of the KGB. I assumed, after that disquieting incident at the Kremlin, that all my steps were being watched, and from then until a few hours later when the plane lifted off from Domodedovo Airport, I felt a bit jittery. In retrospect, maybe that was good: It helped me better understand the situation of the Jews in Russia, who are living between the proverbial rock and hard place, davening for the welfare of their sovereign government, like Jews have been doing through the generations.

Until the dust settles, the Jews of Silence might prefer to remain just that.