The Secretary of the Security Council of Russia said on Friday that an opinion article published by Assistant Secretary of the Security Council, Alexey Pavlov, contained incorrect lines about Lubavitch followers. "I would like to point out that this interpretation reflects the personal point of view of Mr. Pavlov and in no case is it the official position of the Security Council of the Russian Federation”, said Nikolai Petrushev.

Last week, the Jewish communities in Russia issued a strong condemnation of an article about “neo-pagan sects” published by the Assistant Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Alexey Pavlov. In it, in particular, the Chabad-Lubavitch movement was equipareted to a dangerous sect: "The main life principle of Lubavitch Hassidism is the supremacy of the sect’s supporters over all nations and peoples."

Pavlov wrote, among other things: “Since the 90s of the 20th century, the number of followers of religious sects has doubled in Ukraine. A strong impetus for this was the coup in Kiev in 2014, the operatives planted by Washington in the seats of power implemented the tasks that flowed across the ocean. Igor Kolomoisky is a Lubavitch Chabad follower, and a follower of the ultra-orthodox religious movement. A number of other Ukrainian oligarchs belong to this movement, especially Viktor Pinchuk, son-in-law of the second president of Ukraine Kuchma, author of the book ‘Ukraine is not Russia’."

The chief rabbi of Russia, the great Rabbi Berel Lazar, published a scathing letter of response, in which he wrote: “It should be noted that 90% of the rabbis working in the Jewish communities of Russia belong to Chabad, and I myself am also a Lubavitcher! What is really happening in the religious life of the neighboring country, I do not know for sure – but, unfortunately, the article contains a position that is difficult to perceive otherwise – than an insult to millions of believing Jews, including the vast majority of Jews in Russia."

Rabbi Lazar adds: “First of all, it should be noted that Lubavitch Chassidism, the religious movement of Chabad, is not a ‘cult’, but a accepted way of Judaism. Moreover, today it is the largest movement within Hasidism. As for the Chabad ideology, contrary to the fictions of Mr. Pavlov, it resolutely rejects idolatry, at the same time, respectfully supports all religions that teach belief in one God. In order to understand this, it is enough to become familiar with the practice in Chabad communities in Russia and around the world that a considerable part of the social, cultural and educational projects of the movement are intended not only for Jews, but for everyone – and this can be seen in the Jewish Museum and the Tolerance Center that we established in Moscow, which is regularly visited by groups of visitors regardless of nationality or religion, and the vast majority of the school’s students who visit it are not Jewish at all.”

Rabbi Lazar emphasized: “You can call Mr. Pavlov’s logic nonsense, vulgar anti-Semitism and pass it by, but this is a new type of old bloody slanders and if they are uttered by a member of the Russian Security Council, this constitutes an enormous danger, and therefore, we demand an immediate response And unequivocally on the part of society and the state authorities”, demanded the chief rabbi in his poignant letter, published in all media in Russia.

Source: Time News