Russian leaders are using legislative efforts in their continued battle against anti-Semitism. President Vladimir Putin has initiated a bill already passed into law by the Duma which prohibits extreme interpretation of writings contained in holy books. The purpose of the law is to bring an end to anti-Semitic initiatives and other extremists which awaken every few years by deliberately distorting interpretations of holy writings in provocative anti-Semitic efforts.

Chief Rabbi of Russia Rabbi Beryl Lazar Shlita stated “I want to thank the president for initiating the bill and to the legislators who expedited processing it and passing it into law. The new law demonstrates that a free country respects beliefs and eternal values, which form the basis of human society. For many years these values provided the unity of our state as a multinational and multiethnic nation”.

“Unscrupulous persons, in particular supporters of extremist ideologies, always seek to misinterpret [writings] for their own purposes, to throw dust in the eyes of the public and cause intrigue and an irresponsible response. Religion is based on a central theme, that each of us is the work of G-d and therefore, we should respect one another, assist one another, and live in peace side-by-side one another. This is the main thing that studying these sacred texts teaches”.

It is pointed out this latest law is yet another step in the ongoing tenacious activities by Russian legislators to combat anti-Semitism along with the recent arrest of a journalist who published an anti-Semitic book.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)