A leading Christian Orthodox cleric in Ukraine has demanded that the
state return confiscated Torah scrolls to the Jewish community. Archbishop Yuriy of Donetzk and Mariupol on Monday called on Ukrainian
President Viktor Yuschenko, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and regional authorities in the city
of Zhitomir to ensure the return of the scrolls to their original
owners.
Last month, amid allegations of improper treatment of the scrolls, the
Zhitomir Jewish community was forced to return 10 Torahs confiscated by
Bolsheviks decades ago and lent to the community two years ago by the local
state archives.
In his statement, a rare public show of solidarity with Jews by a leading
Orthodox Christian cleric, the archbishop said the situation was sensitive to
every believer.”Brothers, do know, you
are not alone, we are together with you,” he wrote.
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