Chief Rabbi Isaac Halevi Herzog has drawn the attention of the Moscow Chief Rabbi Yehuda Levin of attempts to “slander” the Israel Embassy staff in Moscow, it was disclosed here today.
Rabbi Herzog sent to Rabbi Levin copies of letters purporting to come from Soviet Jews, all of them uniform in content and charging the Embassy staff with interrupting synagogue services and desecrating the Sabbath. Calling the letters a “malicious attempt to create rifts between Jews, ” Rabbi Herzog expressed astonishment at the tactic and wrote that from his personal acquaintance with the Embassy staff, he was certain the charges were not true.
Rabbi Herzog added that numerous visitors to Moscow had reported to him of the reverent attitude of the Embassy staff in the synagogue of the Soviet capital. “Only a heavy heart and profound shock led me to write to you, ” Rabbi Herzog added in his letter.
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