Putin initiates law against anti-Semitic Biblical commentary

Arutz Sheva ^ | 12/10/2015 | Hillel Fendel

[aimhigh]

At the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Duma (Russian Parliament) has legislated a law outlawing "distorted and/or extremist" commentary of Scriptures.

The purpose of the unusual law, it is widely understood, is the prevention of cynical advantage being taken of Biblical verses for anti-Semitic purposes.

Russian history has seen many instances in which anti-Semitic elements announced "shocking new revelations" from the Bible and Rabbinic writings to encourage violent anti-Semitism.

[aimhigh]

Some Jews consider most of the New Testament anti-Semetic. It will be interesting to see how they manage this.

[Slyfox]

... and he is restoring Christian monasteries that were retooled to fit the Soviet building codes.

Who'd a thought that a former Soviet and a US president would switch places.

[Olog-hai]

The same Putin who recently gave an ancient Koran manuscript to the Ayatollah Khamenei?

[Ciexyz]

Putin is to be commended for this.

[Bob434]

[[Who’d a thought that a former Soviet and a US president would switch places. ]]

I had just written and lost that same sentiment- it’s like we’re living in bizarre-world now- Here Americans are kicking God out, while Russia is sticking up for God’s word and the Jews-

[Lurking Libertarian]

Putin is to be commended for this.

...because we trust Putin's government (any government, actually, but Putin's less than most) to decide when scriptural commentary is "distorted." Not.

And anyone who thinks this has to do with stopping anti-semitism is smoking something. This is going to turn out to be another ploy by Putin to destroy any political opposition.

[VitacoreVision]

Israel and Russia are getting pretty close.

Israel pivots to Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3370571/posts

8 Dec 2015

The Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is planning to hold talks with Israel on establishing a free trade zone. The agreement is likely to strengthen Tel Aviv’s economic ties with the union and improve Russia’s investment climate.

...

[FourPeas]

"distorted and/or extremist"

It's good to be king so one can determine what is "distorted and/or extremist."

I prefer freedom.

[af_vet_1981]

...because we trust Putin's government (any government, actually, but Putin's less than most) to decide when scriptural commentary is "distorted." Not.

And anyone who thinks this has to do with stopping anti-semitism is smoking something. This is going to turn out to be another ploy by Putin to destroy any political opposition.

Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, said that the law is truly important in the fight against Russian anti-Semitism. He publicly thanked "my friend President Putin who bodily blocks all anti-Semitic phenomena" and the members of the Duma for "proving that Russia respects the beliefs of all its citizens."

Putin's warm relations with the Jewish community in his country have long been a matter of curiosity. Some say it is because of his many Jewish friends and neighbors when he was a child. One story even has it that a Jewish family befriended him when he was a poor child in St Petersburg whose parents were barely ever home. Another story relates that years later, as Vice-Mayor of that city, Putin stuck his neck out to give permission for the opening of a Jewish school in the city, even though it was not in his authority to do so.

In 2012, Putin arrived in Israel to take part in the inauguration of the Victory Monument in the city of Netanya, commemorating the sacrifices of the Red Army on behalf of Jews during World War II. Putin said on that occasion, “I am very excited to be here today…. The Jewish Holocaust was the most shameful and dark event in human history, and the Soviet Army was the one who crushed the head of the Nazi monster… This amazing monument strengthens the respect I feel towards to the Jewish people and the State of Israel."

[free_life]

Everything Putin does is to benefit Putin. When he no longer wants something from Israel this will disappear much like anyone who disagrees with him.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I’m uncomfortable with censorship, too. As you say, it becomes a battle for who gets to define the terms. So on the one hand, I commend the underlying point. On the other hand, I believe firmly that over time it will have an opposite effect.

[af_vet_1981]

Everything Putin does is to benefit Putin. When he no longer wants something from Israel this will disappear much like anyone who disagrees with him.

You have the Chief Rabbi of Russia saying otherwise. One could argue that some professing Christians are largely deaf when it comes to Jewish suffering, paying lip service to how they love Israel and seemingly taking a stand against Jews whenever they can.

[aimhigh]

Who'd a thought that a former Soviet and a US president would switch places.

David Wilkerson, in his book THE VISION, prophecies this in 1973. He also said Christians would gain freedom in Russia and be persecuted in the U.S.

[Lurking Libertarian]

You have the Chief Rabbi of Russia saying otherwise.

Since he holds his post only with Putin's sufferance, that's not surprising.

One could argue that some professing Christians are largely deaf when it comes to Jewish suffering, paying lip service to how they love Israel and seemingly taking a stand against Jews whenever they can.

As a Jew, I recognize that that is indeed the case sometimes. I still don't trust Putin.

[af_vet_1981]

Since he holds his post only with Putin's sufferance, that's not surprising.

Do you realize who Rabbi Beryl Lazar is ?

As a Jew, I recognize that that is indeed the case sometimes. I still don't trust Putin.

You don't have to; you have the luxury of trusting the Moslem President of the United States.

[Lurking Libertarian]

You have the Chief Rabbi of Russia saying otherwise.

Read Lazar's Wikipedia page. Putin put Lazar in as Chief Rabbi, because the previous Chief Rabbi had supported Putin's political opposition.

[af_vet_1981]

Read Lazar's Wikipedia page. Putin put Lazar in as Chief Rabbi, because the previous Chief Rabbi had supported Putin's political opposition.

I know; I asked if you realized who Rabbi Berel Lazar is; do you understand the history of the Jews in Russia and the former Socialist Republics ? It should come to you.

[Lurking Libertarian]

You don't have to; you have the luxury of trusting the Moslem President of the United States.

I don't trust him either. And history shows that there is no government that can be trusted with deciding who is entitled to interpret the Bible and who isn't.

[sparklite2]

Putin ran this through a friendly Duma.

Obama ran Obamacare through a Congress so friendly
it didn’t even bother to read it, much less
debate it.

But enjoy your ‘freedom.’ It reminds me of a prisoner
standing in this cell, shouting out through the bars,
“I’m free. I’m free!”

[Lurking Libertarian]

do you understand the history of the Jews in Russia and the former Socialist Republics ?

Yes. Two of my grandparents fled Belarus to come to America.