- October 18, 2024
- 4:32 pm
- Ukraine
Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Azman actively opposes Russian aggression, exposing the parallels between Nazi and modern Russian propaganda. In an interview “Telegraph» from October 16, 2024 he talks about the influence of propaganda and the challenges faced by Jews and Ukrainians.
From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Reuven Azman took an active anti-war position. His work as the spiritual leader of the Jewish community undermines Russian propaganda narratives aimed at justifying the war. In an interview with Telegraph, the rabbi shares his thoughts on Russian propaganda, parallels with Nazi Germany and the danger to Jews in Russia.
Countering Russian propaganda
Moshe Azman emphasizes that one of the main goals of his work was to expose the lies spread by Russian propaganda. He openly states that accusations of “Nazism” in Ukraine are one hundred percent lies. From the first days of the war, he noticed that international journalists seriously asked him about the “denazification” imposed by the Kremlin. However, over time, people began to understand the truth.
“At first it was serious because people didn’t understand what was happening. And now I’m already smiling, because it has become clear to everyone that there are no Nazis here.”
The rabbi describes how he tried to convey the truth to people influenced by Russian propaganda, but many of them, even after realizing the reality, repeated the false narratives again minutes later. He compares this influence of propaganda on the subconscious to hypnosis.
Parallels with Nazi Germany
Rabbi Asman draws clear parallels between Russian propaganda and Nazi rhetoric. In his opinion, many elements of Russian propaganda are borrowed from Nazi Germany, including the justification of aggression and the creation of an image of an external enemy.
“They get up from their knees, everyone insults them… And the Germans in Czechoslovakia, Poland, asked to 'save' them. And the same thing here.”
Asman notes that Russians consider themselves the only victors of World War II, which gives them the right to decide who is a “fascist.” He says that in the modern world this narrative has become a tool of dehumanization:
“But for some reason, Russian propaganda decided that only Russian victors can say who is a fascist and who is not. And if they say about someone that he is a fascist, then they are depersonalizing this person. And you can kill a fascist, run over him and his family with a tank. And they say that not only Ukrainians are fascists, but also Europeans and Americans are fascists. And the list goes on, because they themselves decide who to make fascists. I saw that this was a very dangerous precedent and decided that we needed to fight against this evil.”
This is a dangerous practice that allows one to justify any actions against those whom Russian propaganda declares as enemies.
| Nazi propaganda narratives | Russian propaganda |
|---|---|
| Blaming the Jews | Blaming Ukrainians |
| “Enemies threaten the nation” | “Russian speakers need to be saved” |
| Germany protects Germans in Europe | Russia protects “its own” abroad |
Ukrainians are to Putin like Jews are to Hitler
Asman compares the treatment of Ukrainians in Putin's Russia with the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany. He notes that in both cases, an entire nation is accused without any logic.
“The German Nazis persecuted Jews simply for being Jews. Russians, influenced by propaganda, hate Ukrainians in the same way for no apparent reason.”
This process of dehumanization is dangerous because it turns an entire people into a “guilty” people who can be destroyed without remorse.
Jews as “enemies of Russia”
Asman also notes that Russian propaganda has begun to use the theme of Jews as enemies of Russia. Some pro-Russian media abroad are spreading the idea that the war in Ukraine is a war of Jews against Russia. The logic is based on the fact that the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky is a Jew, as are a number of other influential persons in Ukrainian politics.
“It's dangerous. When rulers cannot cope with problems, they always find someone to blame, and most often it is the Jews.”
He also recalls that in the past, Russian rulers often used Jews as scapegoats, blaming them for the country's problems. This precedent may be repeated in the future.
Similarities between Ukraine and Israel
Azman draws parallels between Ukraine and Israel, emphasizing that both countries are under constant threat from enemies. The war, in his opinion, requires Ukrainians to develop a model of life in extreme conditions.
“Ukraine must learn to live 'underwater', like Israel, where the situation can change at any moment.”
He also notes that in Israel, many citizens instantly move from civilian life to military service, realizing that defending the Motherland is their duty. In his opinion, in Ukraine at first there was strong unity and patriotism, which helped to withstand aggression.
Pogroms and anti-Semitism in Russia
Rabbi Azman expresses alarm about growing anti-Semitic sentiments in Russia. The events at the Makhachkala airport, where a crowd tried to attack Jewish passengers, in his opinion, could become the beginning of a series of Jewish pogroms in the country.
“Jewish pogroms always began when government agencies did not intervene.”
Azman fears that Russian government authorities may one day authorize violence against Jews, as has happened in history. This poses a huge threat to the Jewish community in Russia.
The role of “good Russians”
Despite all the horrors happening in Russia, Rabbi Asman does not believe that the Russian people as a whole should be condemned. He emphasizes that there are many people in Russia who oppose the war and support Ukraine.
“There are 25-30% of Russians who are against the war, but they cannot change anything. These people need to be supported, not rejected.”
“I don’t think it’s right to make the Russian language taboo, because many people in Ukraine speak Russian. And those who fight support Ukraine. In Russia itself there are many people who support Ukraine. I know them personally. People from Russia write to me, and I don’t think they should be pushed away. On the contrary, they should be thanked for remaining decent people.”
Asman believes that these are the people who can become the basis for future changes in Russia, and they deserve gratitude for their integrity.
Conclusion
Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Moshe Azman delivers an important message: truth will always triumph over lies. His work in exposing Russian propaganda shows that even in conditions of total information pressure there is a place for light and truth. Azman is convinced that patriotism, unity and the moral strength of the people will help Ukraine withstand aggression, and Russia will one day repent for its actions.
