Pinchas Goldschmidt, the Chief Rabbi of Moscow since 1993, has left Russia after refusing to publicly speak in support of the Ukraine War, says journalist Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, his daughter-in-law.
“Goldschmidt and his wife have been put under pressure by authorities to publicly support the invasion into Ukraine — and refused,” she tweeted.
They flew to Hungary two weeks after the war started, fundraising for refugees in Eastern Europe, and then set off for Jerusalem, where Goldschmidt's father was hospitalised at the time. “They are now in exile from the community they loved, built & raised their children in, over 33 years,” Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt wrote.
Goldschmidt suggested that David Yushyvayev become his temporary replacement as Chief Rabbi.
