The chairman of Moscow’s main synagogue is emigrating to Germany and will be replaced by a new president and executive director, according to the synagogue’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt.
Vladimir Federovsky, the lay leader of Moscow’s historic Choral Synagogue, has held that position for the past six years.
Goldschmidt said a committee of synagogue members has elected Igor Yaroslavsky to serve as executive director and Mendi Kaszirer as president.
In Germany, Federovsky will join thousands of other Russian Jews who emigrated there in search of greater economic opportunities. In the last year alone, an estimated 15,000 Russian Jews emigrated to Germany.
Commenting on Federovsky’s decision to move to Germany, Goldschmidt said, “In general, I’m much happier if a Jew leaves for Israel. However, I can only answer a question (about where someone should move) if I’m asked.”
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