News Brief

Ukraine’s chief rabbi called for an investigation into anti-Semitic provocation by an unknown group.

In late December, a group calling itself the “Orthodox public organization of Odessa” used some Russian Orthodox churches in Odessa to distribute anti-Semitic pamphlets calling for pogroms and the murder of Jews.

Rabbi Azriel Chaikin, one of Ukraine’s chief rabbis, called on Ukraine’s government and Secret Service to investigate the case and rebuff such provocations, which he said “have anti-Semitic as well as anti-Ukrainian character” and “are equally offensive for every man.”

“To repulse provokers is a task of every citizen of Ukraine but first of all of every representative of Ukrainian authority,” an open letter read. “Every incident, every attempt to incite interfaiths and interethnic discord, should be investigated with all due care.”