Russia’s Chief Rabbi Berel Lazar, creative commons license,

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0

License from www.kremlin.ru.via Wikimedia,

The Times of Israel reports that Russia’s chief rabbi (one of two claimants to that title) has called for peace in Ukraine, joining Ukraine’s rabbis in making that demand and further increasing the solidarity of Spiritual Justice Warriors worldwide condemning the Kremlin’s brutality.  Excerpt:

“A prominent rabbi considered close to Russian President Vladimir Putin has called to end the country’s war against Ukraine, offering to help mediate between the two sides.

“’God expects every believer to do everything in their power to save human lives. Personally, I am ready for any mediation, ready to do anything I can and beyond to silence the guns and to stop the bombs,’ Rabbi Berel Lazar wrote in a post on a Russian Jewish website on Wednesday.

“’Now is the time for joint action. Therefore, I appeal to all religious leaders in Ukraine, Russia, Europe, and other continents to join forces for peace. We, loyal to One God alone, should use all our influence, all our power to stop the chaos and prevent further casualties,’ he said.

…

“His call to end the war on Wednesday appeared to be a major break from Lazar’s previous stances on Russia’s policies regarding Ukraine. In 2014, when Russia effectively annexed the Crimean peninsula, Lazar denounced fellow-Chabad Ukrainian rabbis who opposed the move and told them to remain quiet about the ‘activity of politicians.’

“Lazar’s comments on Wednesday came amid fiery condemnations of Russia and its invasion by fellow Chabad rabbis in Ukraine, notably St. Petersburg-born Rabbi Moshe Azman, who explicitly called on Russian Jews to act to end the war.”

Glory to Ukraine!