Chief Rabbi of Ukraine: Stalin died after Jews’ prayers

Assman during prayer in Washington. Photo: Assman's Facebook

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Asman made a Facebook post, linking Joseph Stalin’s death to Jews’ prayers during the feast of Purim.

According to the rabbi, in 1953, at the height of the Purim celebrations, the Lubavitcher Rebbe addressed his Hasidim in the “770” synagogue in New York with a call to shout loudly three times: “Hooray!” Asman explained that in Hebrew this sounds like הוּא רַע – “He is a villain!” Hundreds of those present shouted these words together.

On this topic US chief rabbi: Together with OCU chaplains, we are Ukraine’s spiritual megaphone

By the rabbi’s account, it was at that very moment that Stalin suffered a stroke – on March 2, 1953, by the secular calendar. Three days later, on March 5, Stalin died.

Asman stated that shortly before his death Stalin allegedly had been preparing a mass deportation of Jews to the Far East with the aim of exterminating them – freight railcars were already in place and the relevant order had been issued.

“But the Almighty overturned the villain’s plans. And he died during the days of Purim!” the rabbi wrote.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Zelensky awarded the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine the Order of Merit.

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