Russia announced over the weekend that it has permanently banned 963 Americans from entering Russia in the wake of US sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, Axios reported.
The list, which is an update to the list Moscow released in March, which included US President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other US officials, includes three Chabad Rabbanim, Collive reported.
The Rabbanim were apparently banned due to their connection to Chabad’s legal battle to recover seforim and manuscripts that belonged to the Friediker Rebbe and were stolen by the Soviet Union and the Nazis.
The banned Rabbanim are:
- Rav Avraham Shemtov, chairman of the Agudas Chassidei Chabad (“Aguch”), Chabad shaliach to the White House, Head Shaliach of Philadelphia and founding director of American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad).
- Rav Yehuda Krinsky, secretary of Aguch and chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel, the educational and social arms of Chabad-Lubavitch.
- Rav Shlomo Cunin, a member of Aguch and of Agudas Chasidei Chabad of Russia, and Head Shliach and director of Chabad activities on the West Coast of the United States.
Also included on the list is “Nathan Levin, advocate,” which may be referring to Nathan Lewin, famed frum lawyer who has been representing Chabad in its litigation against Russia.
According to the report, there are three other Jewish names on the list but no information is known about their identities and why they are included on the list: Avrohom Yitzhak Weisfish (122), Moshe Cohen (383), and Ofman Yosef Chaim (910).
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
11 Responses
I think all those Rabunim should Bentch Goymel that they are banned from entering Russia.
Imagine that they were NOT banned and they travelled there , they probably would of been found dead like all other people who Putin got rid off. At least they are safe home in USA and can travel the rest of the world.
Anyone who merited getting on this list is so lucky that they shan’t be stepping again onto a rogue country.
They should be so grateful that at least Israel have never banned them from entry.
I am flabbergasted that Edward Snowden didn’t make it onto this most coveted list.
Let’s summarize the situation:
Corrupt Russia attacked corrupt Ukraine
Even MORE corrupt Democrats threw their “hat” behind Ukraine to distract US from their corrupt policies and complete failure!
THEY FORGOT TO PUT ME ON THE LIST. I’VE BEEN TWEETING AGAINST PUTIN FOR AGES.
This scares me immeasurably…Saddens me a whole lot, but scares me at least as much. Smells like Soviet Russia #2. Seems like the iron curtain is slowly (?) coming down once again, and I hope all the Jews get out of there before they can’t.
Jews in Russia should start considering whether to leave
“3 Chabad Rabbanim Banned From Entering Russia”
To be clear, these are Lubavitch activists that are heavily involved in political matters, not rabbonim that sit and learn and pasken sheilas all day.
Banned from Russia – another credit to Chabad.
Lemayseh if you do your research they are actually rabonim but nice try.
and now you might understand when R Berel Lazar has to remain silent. To protest in Russia is futile, but worse it would put a stop to the incredible work the Rabbonim there have been allowed to do to rescue generations of lost Yidden.
Lemayseh, what are hocking a Cheinik about???