There is nothing to talk about here – Newspaper Kommersant No. 15 (7460) dated 01/27/2023

On the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with Chief Rabbi of Russia Berl Lazar and President of the Federation of Jewish Communities Alexander Boroda. Special Correspondent “Kommersant” Andrey Kolesnikov believes that Vladimir Putin heard something he did not expect.

Obviously, Berl Lazar and Alexander Boroda did not go into a week-long quarantine before meeting with the President of Russia, but made the choice of free people, which, however, is offered not only to them: they decided to sit on two chairs (and in their case, four), that is at a safe distance from him. But meet anyway.

That is, they were now sitting in the center of the famous oval table (famous, as you know, it was made primarily by French President Emmanuel Macron, who at one time refused Russian testing upon arrival at Vnukovo-2). Vladimir Putin was, so to speak, at the head of this table, and the decision should have been recognized as half-hearted (precisely in comparison with Emmanuel Macron, who then located directly opposite his colleague, at the farthest point, and not in the middle of the road).

“Of all the Jews exterminated by the Nazis, the majority were just citizens of the Soviet Union, and this is our common pain,” Vladimir Putin shared.

Well, it turns out they didn’t save it.

“You know our position even today,” the President of Russia continued. “It lies in the fact that we are categorically against consigning to oblivion crimes of this kind that have no statute of limitations. And we are doing this, we are pursuing such a policy so that nothing like this in the history of mankind will ever happen again.

The Russian President, as is well known, indeed has a special attitude to this topic. Strictly speaking, he might not have met with Berl Lazar and Alexander Beard. It was possible to send a telegram or a video message, and no one would say that this was not enough. But he wanted to see them and tell them all this.

“I know the position of the Jewish community of Russia, I know the position of the State of Israel on the role and significance of the Red Army in the victory over Nazism, over fascism, and we highly appreciate it, but, I want to repeat once again, this is of particular importance for our people,” continued Mr Putin.

In the morning, the special services opened up new data on the crimes in Auschwitz, and the Russian president also said about this:

– You also know that the investigating authorities of the Russian Federation, the prosecutor’s office are still doing serious work to identify crimes of this kind, and in relation to all citizens of the former Soviet Union, regardless of their nationality. Undoubtedly, this work will be and is a significant contribution to revealing the crimes of Nazism against the Jews themselves.

Vladimir Putin knows, of course, how Israel treats the fact that Russia remembers this day. In Israel, they would like the whole world to remember, and, according to the Russian president, this is not the case now:

— It is also known that Jewish organizations all over the world support such work on our part. We are doing everything to ensure that this is supported at the international level as well. Unfortunately, under various pretexts, many countries evade working in solidarity in this important area. But regardless of the current political situation, we will continue to do so.

Although, of course, it should be recognized that the current political situation does its job when it is decided whether such a meeting should take place or not. The fight against Nazism, as you know, is now more relevant than ever.

“In fact, for us the Holocaust and everything that happened during the Second World War are tragic events,” Berl Lazar said. “I know this, as they say, firsthand: my family, my father miraculously survived the Holocaust, they managed to leave on the last steamer, and my mother survived the Holocaust because some righteous people hid her during the war.

The Russian language for the Lubavitcher Hasid Berl Lazar, who was born in Italy, moved to the USA at the age of 15 and has been living in Russia for more than 30 years, is not native, and he does not always speak clearly, but this, strange thing, only listens to him better and in the end you understand what you must.

“The suffering that was during the Holocaust — so many Jews suffered at that time, 6 million innocent people died — these sufferings are terrible for us today,” continued Berl Lazar. “Every year, when we remember these events, we always say : never ever. It is no coincidence that tomorrow is also the anniversary of the lifting of the blockade of Leningrad – this is also the time when we remember the suffering that was then.

Berl Lazar paused and suddenly said the following:

“When innocent people,” Berl Lazar told Vladimir Putin, “suffer simply because someone attacks them, it’s terrible, it’s inexplicable and unbearable.

Berl Lazar had in mind the events of 80 years ago, and, of course, nothing else. And the following words of his, without a doubt, confirmed this:

So thank you so much for everything you have done and are doing.

After all, if he meant something else, they would seem paradoxical.

“Moreover,” Berl Lazar added, “Jews feel really comfortable in Russia today, and thank God for what is really happening in our country today.

Then Berl Lazar spoke about the world, but his speech was not so peaceful. Obviously, he was preparing to utter these words (after all, colleagues around the world would have heard his speech), albeit with the utmost delicacy. Well, he had the most difficult task in this office.

“In this regard, we always say that we are ready to do everything to find some peaceful solutions,” Berl Lazar said. “Because people who suffer are bad for everyone, everyone suffers when people around us suffer . We all understand that we are all children of the one God, and our desire is for all children to live in brotherhood, mutual understanding, in friendship, so that people really respect each other.

There was nothing to complain about, although, perhaps, I would like to. After all, the chief rabbi of Russia was saying now, after all, things that were not so lulling, despite their outward beauty: “brotherhood”, “mutual understanding”, “friendship”, “one God”…

It is clear that when he spoke about “peaceful solutions”, he had in mind the history of Ukraine.

“When people suffer, it’s because someone doesn’t let them live a calm, normal life,” and it was also impossible to disagree with these words of Berl Lazar. he saved the whole world, and we value the life of every person.

He seemed to be trying to interest Vladimir Putin, in this case, in the idea of ​​saving the world.

And now it was clear that Berl Lazar was worried, and it was not like him.

“Therefore, I repeat once again: we, as a Jewish community, I think, not only in Russia, but all over the world, are ready to do everything to find some kind of peaceful solutions, so that people really …” he stammered. “Maybe our people understands more than anyone what suffering is, therefore we are ready to do everything so that there really is only peace in the world, peace and people live a good life.

Yes, while this is another life.

Andrey Kolesnikov