Posted on 10/01/2005 6:16:04 PM PDT by Alouette
MOSCOW, Russia – The new U.S. Ambassador to Russia, William Burns, met with Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar on Tuesday at the Marina Roscha Jewish Community Center in Moscow. Also participating in the meeting were Amy Scanlon, the second secretary of the US embassy, and Avraham Berkowitz, Executive Director of the Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS.
Rabbi Lazar took this opportunity to get acquainted with Ambassador Burns and to familiarize him with the needs of the Jewish community in Russia. The Chief Rabbi also told the diplomats about the extraordinary revival of Jewish life across the country and discussed numerous issues of concern to the Jewish community, including the struggle against anti-Semitism and expanding religious freedom in Russia.
The Ambassador was pleased to learn of the enormous changes and growth in Russia's Jewish community that has taken place over the last decade, since he last served in Moscow. Ambassador Burns, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service who most recently served as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, had served in Moscow at the U.S. Embassy in mid nineties as a Minister-Counselor for Political Affairs.
Since arriving in Moscow in mid-August, Ambassador Burns has been visiting with leaders of various groups and agencies to build a working relationship for his coming years of service in Russia.
Following the meeting, the guests enjoyed a tour of the Jewish Community Center and Synagogue complex. The ambassador also signed the guest book.
Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.
A student told his professor he was going to "Palestine" to "fight for freedom, peace and justice,"—Orwellian leftist code words that mean "murder Jews."
Good news.
Important news, deserves a btt.
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