Russian President Vladimir Putin is suggesting that a vast collection of Jewish books and documents that is the focus of a dispute between Moscow and Washington be given a permanent home in the Russian capital’s new Jewish Museum.
A U.S. judge in January ordered that Russia be fined $50,000 a day until it turns over the so-called Schneerson Collection to Chabad Lubavitch, a Hasidic movement within Orthodox Judaism headquartered in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Russia claims the collection is state property. Putin on Tuesday criticized the ruling, saying “discussion of this problem has taken on elements of confrontation,” Russian news agencies reported. The collection is now held at the state library and military archives.
Putin said he would consider ordering the collection be placed at the Jewish museum, which opened last year.
(AP)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
That seems to be a good place. Scholars will have access. It will serve to help build up the Jewish community in Russia, which now exists and is hardly insignificant.
An American claim on it is very weak. If a US court could order property returned that had been confiscated by the Communists, a huge amount would be subject to litigation – and given the US desires friendly relations with Russia that would be unwise. Indeed, we as Jews desire friendly relations with the Russians, and returning the property to Jewish control should be enough.
Why does Russia does not want to give over the books to lubavitch in us. Anyways they don’t understand them, maybe they want to open up a yeshiva in Moscow duma
With friends like Putin, the Lubavitchers don’t need enemies. I hope all it takes to convince Putin to allow the books to go to Brooklyn is money. Yes, scholars and bochurs could travel to Moscow to use the documents, but at what cost, and at what risk?