Sharon Orders To Bring Subbotniks to Israel
Following the exposure in NRG Maariv, about 20 Russian Jewish families suffering from Anti-Semitism where authorized to come to Israel
Following the exposure in NRG Maariv, the Prime Minister’s office approved the immigration to Israel of about 20 Subbotnik families living in Russian villages.
The number of Subbotniks is estimated at ten thousand people. They are the descendents of Russian villagers who converted [to Judaism]. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Russian czar, Alexander I, expelled them from their homes and dispersed them to various places across the country. With the establishment of the Soviet Union, the Subbotniks suffered persecutions by the Communist authorities but continued to keep their Jewish identity.
About a month ago, NRG Maariv disclosed a petition that the Subbotniks transferred to Prime Minister Sharon, pleading to save them and allow them to come immediately on Aliya to Israel after suffering harsh displays of anti-Semitism by their Christian neighbors living with them in the same Russian villages.
The idea of the petition was born after Michael Freund, Chairman and President of Shavei Israel; a volunteer organization that is involved with bringing Jews from across the world to Israel, visited Vissoki, a village of Subbotniks. They related to him of the dozens of anti-Semitic acts carried out against the Jews. Freund received a petition along with a letter containing the Subbotniks’ outcry and handed them over to the Prime Minister’s office
“This is a breakthrough”
For now, the Prime Minister’s office, through its Nativ liaison office, decided to allow 20 Jewish families from Vissoki village to immigrate to Israel. The assessment is that in the coming months, Nativ will authorize additional hundreds of Subbotniks to come on Aliya to Israel.
“They approved the coming of about 20 families from the village,” said a representative from the Jewish Agency to NRG Maariv. “We are in contact with our emissaries in these villages. The inclination is to bring to Israel as many of the Subbotniks as possible.”
Michael Freund rejoiced very much upon hearing the news about the decision to bring the Subbotniks to Israel. “This is a breakthrough, and I am thankful for it.” He said. “During my visit to these villages, I was shocked to see their difficult situation. Still, we must bring [to Israel] the hundreds of families living in these villages. We are speaking of full-fledged Jews and, as is well known, the State assists Jews all over the world. I am quite certain that the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Interior will do everything to bring to Israel any Jew who wishes to come.