Russia effectively outlaws Jewish Aliyah to Israel

 

Russia is pulling new ‘iron curtain’ on country’s Jews

The Russian government could ban the Jewish Agency in Russia, causing the organisation to cease operations in the country. The reports are very concerning as this move will effectively prevent Russian Jews making Aliyah to Israel and may lead to antisemitism in Russia. The Jewish Agency for Israel is the primary organisation that helps Jews around the world make Aliyah to Israel. It has a long history of operating in Russia. Under the Soviet Union it was illegal and so Jewish Agency officials worked undercover, operating almost as a spy network. The USSR was a staging ground for antisemitism and the communist government was not favourable towards Israel. This led to discriminatory policies, persecution and even pogroms against Jews.  This all changed thirty years ago when the Soviet Union collapsed. Not only has Russia treated its Jewish citizens better, but the reopening of the country prompted an exodus of Jews from Russia and its neighbouring countries to make Aliyah to Israel. This was largely coordinated by the Jewish Agency and funded by Israeli, Jewish, Christian, and Zionist organisations helping to fund Jewish emigration from Russia to Israel. FULL ARTICLE AT: Christians United for Israel