
While Moscow Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt has been reelected to his position, sources say the government wanted him replaced.
Chizhik-Goldschmidt explained that her in-laws “flew to Hungary two weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They are now in exile from the community they loved, built & raised their children in, over 33 years.” She revealed that “he was re-elected today by the MEPO community.”
Can finally share that my in-laws, Moscow Chief Rabbi @PinchasRabbi & Rebbetzin Dara Goldschmidt, have been put under pressure by authorities to publicly support the 'special operation' in Ukraine — and refused. pic.twitter.com/Gy7zgI3YkJ
— Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt (@avitalrachel) June 7, 2022
The Jerusalem Post learned on Tuesday that Goldschmidt was re-elected as Moscow’s Chief Rabbi for another seven years in the prestigious position.
Many rabbis and Jewish officials have been involved in attempts to have the community vote for another rabbi instead of Goldschmidt but pressure from senior Israeli rabbis, including the two chief rabbis, had succeeded – and he now has seven more years as chief rabbi. According to a source in the Jewish community, “The coup attempt failed.”
Sources in Russia’s Jewish community also hinted that officials in the government were interested in overruling Goldschmidt.