I don't understand something....Rabbi blesses Georgian President

[Dr. Dan]

If it is idealistic that all Jews not live in galut, in particular, war torn areas where their lives are in danger, then why doesn't this rabbi encourage the remaining Georgian Jews to make Aliya?



http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1218446182563&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Georgian Prime Minister Vladimer (Lado) Gurgenidze made a special call to Israel Tuesday morning to receive a blessing from one of the haredi community's most important rabbis and spiritual leaders, Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman.


Lado Gurgenidze
Photo: AP [file]
The nonagenarian rabbi from Bnei Brak, known as the father of the yeshiva world, acquiesced to Gurgenidze's request and blessed the Jewish community of Georgia "and all who live in that place."

According to Steinman's followers, shortly after the rabbi uttered the blessing Russia announced a cease-fire with war-torn Georgia.

During Tuesday's morning prayers, Rabbi Shimon Bruk, the chairman of the Israel branch of The Council for Saving Lost Jews (Hava'ad L'hatzalat Nidchei Yisrael), a haredi organization that builds educational institutions in Eastern Europe, received a phone call from Georgia.

"I was in the middle of my prayers so all I could do was grunt into the phone," recalled Bruk.

"Shortly after I finished praying the amida my phone rang again. 'This is Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze speaking. You brought me a letter from a man named Stumen [sic]. Is he still alive? I've heard that he is a holy man. I want him to pray for us and our state.'"

Bruk said he had met with Steinman around noon on Tuesday and presented Gurgenidze's request to the rabbi.

"There were a lot of raised eyebrows when shortly after Rabbi Steinman made the blessing, we heard about the cease-fire," recalled Bruk.

Bruk had met with Georgia's prime minister in March to thank him for his support for Jewish educational institutions built in Georgia by the council. During the meeting Bruk presented Gurgenidze with a letter from Steinman in which the rabbi referred to the Georgian government as a "regime of loving-kindness."

Steinman's letter is reportedly hanging on the wall of Gurgenidze's office.

The council has been operating in Eastern Europe since before the fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

In Tbilisi, Georgia, the council runs a nursery school, two grade schools, a yeshiva for boys and a high school for girls. Many of Tbilisi's Jewish educators and rabbis, including Chief Rabbi of Georgia Ariel Levine, are products of the local educational institutions.

In addition to blessing Georgia's prime minister, Steinman also answered the questions of concerned members of Georgia's Jewish community.

He advised against sending educators and rabbis to Tbilisi until the fighting stopped.

However, when he heard about the cease-fire he permitted rabbis to be sent to nearby Azerbaijan.

"The Jews there need a lot of psychological and spiritual support," said Bruk. "They are going through some very traumatic times."

[mazz]

How many Jews live there?

[Dr. Dan]

How many Jews live there?

was it a 100 families? not that many

[Gruzinit]

How many Jews live there?

was it a 100 families? not that many

About 10,000 to 13,000 Jews live there, from the latest statistics.

[mazz]

Good number

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

I'd rather Jews live in Georgia than Nazi Iran.

[Manch]

I'd rather Jews live in Georgia than Nazi Iran.

Jews in Georgia are very unique - they do not feel any antiSemitism from Georgians but also preserve their Jewish identity. Jews are an integral part of the Georgian society and were always welcome by these wonderful people. Notice, it wouldn't occur to a Russian minister to call a Rabbi! See the difference between these two countries.  We must, unequivocally, support Georgia. 

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

Jews in Georgia are very unique - they do not feel any antiSemitism from Georgians but also preserve their Jewish identity. Jews are an integral part of the Georgian society and were always welcome by these wonderful people. Notice, it wouldn't occur to a Russian minister to call a Rabbi! See the difference between these two countries.  We must, unequivocally, support Georgia. 

Amen!!!

[Ulli]

I don't agree with you.

What Georgian Prime Minister Vladimer Gurgenidze did is not right. I have seen during the past week, how the Georgians tried to rope the EU and the Nato in this conflict. Now they try it with Israel. I pray, that the Georgian leadership will not encouraged by moral support to do more foolish things. This will not help Georgia.

[IslamIsCancer]

Georgians are gonna get rid of that Stalinist mongrel and hopefully soon the Armenians would come to their senses and reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us, may Stalin get sodomized in hell with Saakashvili scumbag. DEATH TO SAAKASHVILI!
INDEPENDENCE FOR OSSETIA ON ITS WAY!!!!

[Ulli]

Georgians are gonna get rid of that Stalinist mongrel and hopefully soon the Armenians would come to their senses and reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us, may Stalin get sodomized in hell with Saakashvili scumbag. DEATH TO SAAKASHVILI!
INDEPENDENCE FOR OSSETIA ON ITS WAY!!!!

You are too radical. Come down.

We don't need this civil war in our civilization. We should do everything to end this insanity instantly and to support those who sincerly want peace, honest cooperation and the just reconciliation of interests.

It is obvious that Russians, Ossetians and Georgians are no Nazis or Muslims. So they are theoretically able to do the righteous things. I wish their wicked leaders would correct themselves and do repentence for all the evil things they did - We know about it and I am very sad about the actions of all of them in the present and in the nearer past. 

[IslamIsCancer]

Georgians are gonna get rid of that Stalinist mongrel and hopefully soon the Armenians would come to their senses and reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us, may Stalin get sodomized in hell with Saakashvili scumbag. DEATH TO SAAKASHVILI!
INDEPENDENCE FOR OSSETIA ON ITS WAY!!!!

You are too radical. Come down.

We don't need this civil war in our civilization. We should do everything to end this insanity instantly and to support those who sincerly want peace, honest cooperation and the just reconciliation of interests.

It is obvious that Russians, Ossetians and Georgians are no Nazis or Muslims. So they are theoretically able to do the righteous things. I wish their wicked leaders would correct themselves and do repentence for all the evil things they did - We know about it and I am very sad about the actions of all of them in the present and in the nearer past. 

I bet you wouldn't say that if Stalin stole parts of YOUR country for NOTHING.
MAY SAAKASHVILI DIE, FREEDOM TO JAVAKHK AND OSSETIA!
I HOPE THEY BOMB THE TURD PIPELINE FOEVER NOBODY IS GETTING AZERI OIL DEATH TO THE MONGOL OIL. 

[IslamIsCancer]

Georgians are gonna get rid of that Stalinist mongrel and hopefully soon the Armenians would come to their senses and reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us, may Stalin get sodomized in hell with Saakashvili scumbag. DEATH TO SAAKASHVILI!
INDEPENDENCE FOR OSSETIA ON ITS WAY!!!!

You are too radical. Come down.

We don't need this civil war in our civilization. We should do everything to end this insanity instantly and to support those who sincerly want peace, honest cooperation and the just reconciliation of interests.

It is obvious that Russians, Ossetians and Georgians are no Nazis or Muslims. So they are theoretically able to do the righteous things. I wish their wicked leaders would correct themselves and do repentence for all the evil things they did - We know about it and I am very sad about the actions of all of them in the present and in the nearer past. 

You don't know who's the real nazi here they still have Stalin's statue in Georgia and they worship that mongrel, I've got no problem with that unless they return every single inch of Armenia. Stalin was responsible for giving Nagorno Karabakh and Nakhijevan to AzerGayJan and Javakh to Georgia MAY EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET WHO WORSHIPS STALIN DIE INCLUDING THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES!!! NO TURD NATO IN MY BACKYARD FREEDOM TO JAVAKH IS COMING I HOPE THE SCUMBAGS WHO RUN ARMENIA NOW INVADE FROM THE SOUTH AND LIBERATE OUR PEOPLE SCREW THE STALINIST REGIME.

[Dr. Dan]

Georgians are gonna get rid of that Stalinist mongrel and hopefully soon the Armenians would come to their senses and reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us, may Stalin get sodomized in hell with Saakashvili scumbag. DEATH TO SAAKASHVILI!
INDEPENDENCE FOR OSSETIA ON ITS WAY!!!!

You are too radical. Come down.

We don't need this civil war in our civilization. We should do everything to end this insanity instantly and to support those who sincerly want peace, honest cooperation and the just reconciliation of interests.

It is obvious that Russians, Ossetians and Georgians are no Nazis or Muslims. So they are theoretically able to do the righteous things. I wish their wicked leaders would correct themselves and do repentence for all the evil things they did - We know about it and I am very sad about the actions of all of them in the present and in the nearer past. 

You don't know who's the real nazi here they still have Stalin's statue in Georgia and they worship that mongrel, I've got no problem with that unless they return every single inch of Armenia. Stalin was responsible for giving Nagorno Karabakh and Nakhijevan to AzerGayJan and Javakh to Georgia MAY EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS PLANET WHO WORSHIPS STALIN DIE INCLUDING THEIR FAMILIES AND RELATIVES!!! NO TURD NATO IN MY BACKYARD FREEDOM TO JAVAKH IS COMING I HOPE THE SCUMBAGS WHO RUN ARMENIA NOW INVADE FROM THE SOUTH AND LIBERATE OUR PEOPLE SCREW THE STALINIST REGIME.

oh my....

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

IslamisCancer, you have turned into a troll and have made yourself into a laughingstock. Newsflash--the world does not revolve around Armenia and your big brother Russia wouldn't come to save Armenia if somebody was invading it. That is reality. You can keep living in your "Armenia is always right" fantasy land or you can wake up and smell the roses.

Since you are such an expert on all things Armenian, do you care to tell forum members about Hagop Hagopian, the Armenian Marxist "freedom fighter" who took part in the Black September atrocity in Munich in 1972 as a favor to his good friend Yasser Arafat? Do you care to tell us Arafat (ys"vz) once called himself "Yasser Arafatian" during a diplomatic visit with Western leaders?  Please tell us also why all the Armenians in Israel are constantly siding with Hamas and accuding Israel of invading their churches and ethnically cleansing the Arabs.

We all want to know these things about the great people of Armenia!

[Masha]

reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us...

What were the territories? I thought Turkey stole Armenian land.

[IslamIsCancer]

reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us...

What were the territories? I thought Turkey stole Armenian land.

Turkey stole, we fought back and freed those territories then came Lenin and other scumbags and gave those territories back to be friends with them. Later Stalin came and stole some more land giving it to Azeris and Georgia. NKR has been liberated but the ones in Georgia are still under Stalinashvili's control. I wouldn't care about those territories if they left the people alone there after all it's a Christian Orthodox country. But they are destroying those churches and schools in their attempt to depopulate and Georgianize the region.

[IslamIsCancer]

C.F. There were and still are many Jews who are doing everything in their power to harm us, you resorted to a poor attempt to generalize ALL Armenians, this is exactly what antisemites are are doing.

[Americanhero1]

IslamisCancer, you have turned into a troll and have made yourself into a laughingstock. Newsflash--the world does not revolve around Armenia and your big brother Russia wouldn't come to save Armenia if somebody was invading it. That is reality. You can keep living in your "Armenia is always right" fantasy land or you can wake up and smell the roses.

Since you are such an expert on all things Armenian, do you care to tell forum members about Hagop Hagopian, the Armenian Marxist "freedom fighter" who took part in the Black September atrocity in Munich in 1972 as a favor to his good friend Yasser Arafat? Do you care to tell us Arafat (ys"vz) once called himself "Yasser Arafatian" during a diplomatic visit with Western leaders?  Please tell us also why all the Armenians in Israel are constantly siding with Hamas and accuding Israel of invading their churches and ethnically cleansing the Arabs.

We all want to know these things about the great people of Armenia!

Lay Off IIC he is not a Troll
He has strong feelings about this subject

[Gruzinit]

reclaim their territories that Stalin stole from us...

What were the territories? I thought Turkey stole Armenian land.

Turkey stole, we fought back and freed those territories then came Lenin and other scumbags and gave those territories back to be friends with them. Later Stalin came and stole some more land giving it to Azeris and Georgia. NKR has been liberated but the ones in Georgia are still under Stalinashvili's control. I wouldn't care about those territories if they left the people alone there after all it's a Christian Orthodox country. But they are destroying those churches and schools in their attempt to depopulate and Georgianize the region.

Russia and Turkey collaborated in conquering Armerina, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the 1920's and colsolidated the territories into a single socialist republic. I do not know much of the territories you speak of, but I truly believe Stalin acted not in the best interests of Georgia, but of the Kremlin.

We shouldn’t pretend to be shocked at Russia’s convenient support of nationalism in the Caucasus after our own convenient support of it in the Balkans. The US and EU assistance in the breakup of Yugoslavia set a precedent of allowing ethnic enclaves to secede from their internationally-recognized countries without the general consent of their neighbors.  This is the only parallel South Ossetia has to Kosovo, both territories belonged to Georgia and Serbia for centuries. Just as 200,000 Serbs were ethnically cleansed from Kosovo due to war and the NATO campaign, 300,000 Georgians left the region S.O. and Abkhazia. The Russians who collabarated with seperatists and encouraged Russian immigration which also giving citizenship to Ossetians are no different than the Ustase and Tito, who encouraged Albanian immigration into Kosovo to shift demographics in their favor.

 Moscow can make those charges and claim just as much moral responsibility to protect Abkhazians and Ossetians from Tbilisi as America and Europe did for the breakaway republics in the Balkans, and if necessary they can fake a few atrocities to give it some PR value, which I have seen on their news channels. Are you so blind in your hatred that you cannot see Russia trying to regain it influences? Do you honestly think countries like Armenia, Ukraine and the Baltic will be spared the same wrath if they defy Russia?

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

You put it much more eloquently than I ever could, Gruzinit. Kudos to you for showing restraint and sticking to the facts in dealing with this once-great member who has gone completely bonkers.

[Ambiorix]

I think this war is a NATO-designed plan to weaken Russia's political and military influence in the region, and to weaken the Russian energy giant-company Gazprom, by building pipelines that are not on Russian controlled territories. Remember the current president of Russia was the president of Gazprom untill very recently.

I don't think it is in our (JTF) interest to start wars between NATO and Russia.

We should better use our combined power, to limit the treath posed by some of our our enemies : China, Iran, Cuba, Saudi-Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Jordan, Mexico, Venezuela, and North-Korea, to name a few.... in other words, to dominate the third world, instead of letting them invade us, and outbreeding us.

[DALMACIJA]

Georgia's pro EU government has the same ethnic cleansing intentions/ politic towards the Russians as Croatia had towards the Serbs in 1995!

To bad for Georgia's pro EU government Russia's president is not Milosevic who did not protect his own people, the Krajina Serbs, in 1995 when Croatia started to invade Republic of Serbian Krajina and banished the Serbs.

Due Russia's reaction ethnic cleansing against Orthodox Russians in Northern- Georgia is stopped on time. Georgia's pro EU government has marked the Russians in Georgia as a barricade on their road direction the membership of the NATO-pact. Ethnic cleansing was prepared against Russians in order to clean Georgia of anti-NATO and pro Russian influences.

Neighboring/ surrounding nations of Russia should not be part of the NATO-pact.
This will endanger the Russian federation.