Ukraine’s ‘Chief Rabbi’ becomes wartime leader after viral videos | 24CA News
An on-line video reveals Ukrainian troopers driving an amphibious all-terrain automobile by means of flooded streets within the southern metropolis of Kherson, rescuing civilians trapped after a close-by rattling was destroyed in June. And aiding with the evacuation effort, seated with the troops contained in the ATV, is a 57-year-old rabbi.
Moshe Azman, generally known as Ukraine’s chief rabbi, has swapped his kippah and kittel for a helmet and flak jacket. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion final yr, Azman has traversed the war-torn nation to ship support and evacuate civilians from among the most harmful areas.
Ukrainian rabbi Moshe Azman poses for {a photograph} throughout a go to to Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast in June 2023.
That humanitarian work almost value his life. During his journey to the flooded metropolis of Kherson in June, Azman was recording a video message when a Russian shell struck close by, sending the bearded rabbi diving for canopy. Fortunately, nobody was damage.
“The Russians are shelling civilian people during evacuation missions,” he advised Global News. “Before the war, I was a very quiet guy. Now, I cannot be quiet.”
Ukraine’s chief rabbi Moshe Azman offers an interview to Global News throughout a go to to Toronto in July 2023.
Global News
Azman was born in Russia and grew-up in Vladimir Putin’s hometown of Leningrad. His dad and mom have been Jewish however the Soviet Union forbade them from training their faith, so in 1987 Azman immigrated to Israel.
He and his Ukrainian spouse later moved to Kyiv, Ukraine, and in 2015 Azman opened a refugee ‘village’ for Jewish Ukrainians and others displaced by the combating within the Donbas, named after Fiddler on the Roof’s fictional ‘Anatevka.’
Rabb Azman opened a refugee ‘village’ in Kyiv in 2015 known as ‘Anatevka,’ named after Fiddler on the Roof’s fictional.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February twenty fourth, 2022, Azman’s refugee centre grew to become a bomb shelter.
“I thought it was a dream. I told myself to wake-up,” he stated, describing the second the primary air raid sirens sounded within the Ukrainian capital.
As explosions thundered within the distance, dozens of households huddled collectively contained in the corridor of the refugee centre, together with members of Azman’s household.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February twenty fourth, 2022, Azman’s refugee centre grew to become a bomb shelter.
Rabbi Moshe Azman
“I was very nervous because I have many people, women, children, my children were there and my small grandchildren,” he stated.
When the bombs lastly stopped hours later, Azman went to his synagogue and recorded a video that may alter his trajectory.
Speaking Russian and cradling a Torah scroll, he furiously condemned the Russian authorities, its army and what he known as the silent indifference of the Russian folks.
“If God forbid, I have to die, then let the curse be on those who are silent and quietly participate in this attack,” he stated, angrily slamming his fist on the rostrum.
A screenshot from a Facebook video by Rabbi Azman recorded following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The six-minute video was posted on Facebook and obtained almost a million views. So the rabbi recorded one other video. And one other. And one other.
17 months later, his social media platforms are filled with viral movies recorded throughout his humanitarian missions in three languages: Russian, Ukrainian and English. The latter are meant for a Western viewers, with the rabbi calling for extra worldwide help.
This week, Azman introduced that message to Canada, visiting the Toronto space and assembly with varied Ukrainian and Jewish group teams. His Canadian go to follows earlier journeys to Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.
“I would like to thank all the good people here, the Canadian government, Canadian people, Canadian organizations. They’ve given a lot of help for Ukraine. But please don’t be tired,” he stated, citing issues about rising donor fatigue amongst Ukraine’s allies.
“My message is for people to continue to help Ukraine.”
Ukrainian Rabbi Moshe Azman addresses members of Toronto’s Ukrainian group throughout a go to to Canada in July 2023.
Jeff Semple / Global News
Alik Gomelsky, a Jewish-Ukrainian-Canadian writer who helped to arrange the go to, stated the rabbi’s message is especially vital for members of the Jewish group, a few of whom stay divided over help for Ukraine, he stated.
“It’s very important to spread the word of truth and saying the Jews and the Ukrainians are together,” Gomelsky stated. “The rabbi has very good influence and he can convince and explain. People in Canada can listen and see a person who was actually on the front lines.”
In his speeches and conversations, Azman fiercely pushes again towards Russian President Vladimir Putin’s false claims that Russia is liberating Ukraine from Nazis.
“We don’t have Nazis in Ukraine. Even anti-semitism in Ukraine is low,” Azman stated, pointing to Ukraine’s Jewish President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Azman has identified for years previous to his election.
Ukrainian actor and future president Volodymyr Zelensky, left, and Rabbi Moshe Azman, heart, in 2018, one yr earlier than Zelensky’s election as Ukrainian president.
“Please don’t make (Russian propaganda) out of the tragedy of the Jewish people.”
Azman recalled growing-up in Russia and watching movies in regards to the Second World War, with scenes depicting the Soviet Red Army combating again towards the attacking German Nazi tanks.
“The German Nazis did the mass killing of Jewish people,” he stated. “Now it’s the Russian tanks that are attacking us.”
