Chief rabbi: Those who criticize Jews harm Ukraine

Zelensky with Ukrainian rabbis. Photo: Asman’s Facebook

Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Asman published a video address in mixed Russian and Ukrainian in which he criticized antisemites who post comments online attacking Jews.

According to him, their activity has already led some donors to stop financing Ukraine.

“There are wealthy organizations and people in the West who have already refused to help Ukraine – even though they used to provide a great deal of support, including humanitarian aid and other assistance. I come to them, and they say: ‘We don’t want to help because, look, such-and-such bloggers – I won’t name them – are such antisemites, and people like their posts and support them,’” the rabbi said, adding that “we must be responsible both for the Ukrainian people and for the Jewish people.”

He stressed that many Jews have died for Ukraine’s freedom and suggested that antisemites look their relatives in the eye.

“Ask yourselves: who are you, whom are you working for, and how are you harming Ukraine?” Asman said.

As previously reported by the UOJ, the chief rabbi thanked Zelensky for the law against antisemitism.

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