{{Short description|Chief Rabbi of Ukraine}} {{Infobox Jewish leader | honorific-prefix = Rabbi | name = Moshe Reuven Azman | honorific-suffix = | title = | image = asman.jpg | caption = Azman in 2014 | synagogueposition = | yeshiva = | yeshivaposition = | organisation = | organisationposition = Chief Rabbi of Ukraine<ref name="European Jewish Parliament">{{Cite web |title=Moshe-Reuven Azman |url=http://ejp.eu/members/moshe-reuven-azman-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230060010/http://ejp.eu/members/moshe-reuven-azman-2/ |archive-date=30 December 2021 |access-date=13 March 2022 |website=European Jewish Parliament}}</ref> | began = 2005 | ended = | predecessor = | successor = | rabbi = | rebbe = | kohan = | hazzan = | rank = | other_post = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|03|13}}<ref name="European Jewish Parliament" /> | birth_place = Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union<ref name="European Jewish Parliament" /> | death_date = | death_place = | buried = | nationality = | denomination = | dynasty = | parents = | spouse = | children = 11<ref name="Yeshiva world">{{Cite news |date=2 March 2022 |title=Watch This Video: Kyiv Rav: "I'm Not Afraid To Die, The Curse Is On Those Who Remain Silent" |work=The Yeshiva World |url=https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2065501/watch-this-video-kyiv-rav-im-not-afraid-to-die-the-curse-is-on-those-who-remain-silent.html |url-status=live |access-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302230923/https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/2065501/watch-this-video-kyiv-rav-im-not-afraid-to-die-the-curse-is-on-those-who-remain-silent.html |archive-date=2 March 2022}}</ref> | occupation = | profession = | alma_mater = | semicha = | signature = }} {{Chabad (Rebbes and Chasidim)|Rebbes of Chabad}}
Rabbi '''Moshe Reuven Azman''' (born on 13 March 1966) is an Orthodox rabbi and one of two people who claim to be the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine.<ref name="European Jewish Parliament" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kornbluh |first=Jacob |date=2022-03-03 |title=A tale of two rabbis: Meet the men with dueling claims to be the leader of Ukraine's Jews |language=en |work=The Forward |url=https://forward.com/news/483355/chief-rabbi-ukraine-yaakov-bleich-moshe-azman/ |access-date=2023-05-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 2018 |title=Ukraine chief rabbi says spy devices found at Kiev synagogue |publisher=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukraine-chief-rabbi-says-spy-devices-found-at-kiev-synagogue/ |url-status=live |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109115049/https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukraine-chief-rabbi-says-spy-devices-found-at-kiev-synagogue/ |archive-date=9 November 2022}}</ref>
Azman is an influential figure in Ukraine, an opponent of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022,<ref name="video">{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Josh |date=2 March 2022 |title='I'm not afraid to die' Ukraine chief rabbi calls for world to not stay silent |publisher=www.thejc.com |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/world/im-not-afraid-to-die-ukraine-chief-rabbi-calls-for-world-to-not-stay-silent-4fSht7OdNNc4qt1XxZSLQd |url-status=live |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109100340/https://www.thejc.com/news/world/im-not-afraid-to-die-ukraine-chief-rabbi-calls-for-world-to-not-stay-silent-4fSht7OdNNc4qt1XxZSLQd |archive-date=9 November 2022}}</ref> and a leader in international humanitarian aid efforts in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levine |first=Heidi |title=Historic synagogue in Kyiv has spent $2 million evacuating Ukrainians from war's hot spots |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/22/kyiv-temple-evacuations/ |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522175919/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/03/22/kyiv-temple-evacuations/ |archive-date=2022-05-22}}</ref> He has been active on the international scene, raising awareness of the crisis in Ukraine, and strengthening Israel–Ukraine relations.
==Early life== Azman was born in 1966 in Leningrad, Russia. His mother's family was Chabad and his father's Litvish. He is married to the daughter of Zusya Hirsh Lyubarsky, a ''shochet'' from Kharkiv. Azman was active in the refusenik movement since his youth.<ref name="European Jewish Parliament" /> In 1987, he received permission from the Soviet government to leave the USSR. He immigrated to Israel where he studied in a Chabad ''yeshiva''. He worked as a secretary in "Beit Chabad for Russian Jews" in Israel during the Russian ''aliyah'' of 1991, helping Russian-Jewish immigrants adjust to Israel life in Israel and reconnect to Judaism. Azman also helped with bringing Ukrainian-Jewish children of Chernobyl to Israel so that they could receive medical and psychological rehabilitation.<ref name="Office of the Chief Rabbi-1" />
In 1995, Azman and his wife went to Kyiv and helped a rabbi to run a synagogue in one of the rooms of the grand Brodsky Choral Synagogue, which had been turned into a puppet theater during the Soviet period.<ref name="Office of the Chief Rabbi-1">{{Cite web |title=About Rabbi Azman |url=https://www.officeofchiefrabbi.org/about-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201143213/https://www.officeofchiefrabbi.org/about-1 |archive-date=2022-12-01 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Office of the Chief Rabbi}}</ref> There he helped to rebuild Kyiv's Jewish community. Eventually, the Kyiv government granted the entire synagogue to the Jewish community. Azman went on to found a communal soup kitchen, a ''chevra Kadisha'' (burial service), and a kindergarten through high school education system.<ref name="Office of the Chief Rabbi-1" />
==Career==
In 2005, Azman was appointed Chief Rabbi of Ukraine by the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress.<ref name="European Jewish Parliament" /> Since his appointment, Azman has led local Jewish community events, overseen the establishment of Jewish life infrastructure including kosher food, a ''chevra kadisha'' (burial service), education, and community relations with other international Jewish organizations. He maintains close relationships with many Ukrainian leaders throughout his career and frequently visits Israel. He has met with top Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat.<ref name="bibi">{{Cite news |last=Klein |first=Zvika |date=2022-09-08 |title=Netanyahu meets with Ukraine Chief Rabbi, promises to help end war if reelected |work=The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-716629 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201121209/https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-716629 |archive-date=2022-12-01}}</ref><ref name="nir">{{Cite news |last=Siegal |first=Tobias |date=9 September 2022 |title=Likud MK Nir Barkat visits Uman despite warnings from Israel, Ukraine |publisher=The Times of Israel |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-mk-nir-barkat-visits-uman-despite-warnings-from-israel-ukraine/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201121209/https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-mk-nir-barkat-visits-uman-despite-warnings-from-israel-ukraine/ |archive-date=1 December 2022}}</ref>
==Humanitarian work==
Azman oversees the non-profit organization "Mitzvah for Ukraine", which provides humanitarian aid to Ukrainians of all genders, religions, and races.{{cn|date=April 2023}} The organization operates two soup kitchens and distributes meal kits, oversees medical treatment, and has distributed aid shipments of clothing, generators, medical equipment, among others.
In 2022, Azman organized the delivery of 16 air conditioner units to hospitals in Ukraine for use during the warm summer months.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fritzhand |first=Troy |title=Since Russia invaded, Ukraine's chief rabbi saved countless lives |url=https://m.jpost.com/diaspora/article-732380 |website=The Jerusalem Post}}</ref>
===Anatevka Refugee Village===
In 2014, in response to the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine that displaced hundreds of thousands of people, Azman established the Anatevka Refugee Village.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.anatevka.com/aboutus/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025213051/https://www.anatevka.com/aboutus/ |archive-date=2022-10-25 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Anatevka.com}}</ref> The village provided housing, health care, food, and community support for hundreds of Jewish refugees. Soon after, the Mitzvah 613 Educational System was established which provided comprehensive education to both the children of Anatevka as well as Jews in other local communities. thumb|The Anatevka Refugee Village
The Village hosts a mikveh, a communal dining room, a kindergarten, a school, a soccer field, a playground, a woodworking workshop, a Cheder, a synagogue, and a hotel that is often used to house refugees before additional housing units are constructed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Projects |url=https://www.anatevka.com/projects/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201141705/https://www.anatevka.com/projects/ |archive-date=2022-12-01 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Anatevka.com}}</ref>
===2022 war response===
With the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Azman and his organization took a prominent role in evacuating refugees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Al-Kassim |first=Mohammad |date=2022-04-19 |title=Ukraine chief rabbi helps evacuate Jewish refugees to safety |work=The Jerusalem Post |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-704548 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221111135655/https://www.jpost.com///diaspora/article-704548 |archive-date=2022-11-11}}</ref> Reports say they were responsible for the evacuation of over 40,000 individuals. He has been a strong and outspoken opponent of the war, strongly condemning the Russian invasion. He told ''Newsweek'' "I don't believe what I see. I see the Russians shooting civilian people. You make war crime, you are citizens of Russia. You are involved in the crime".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mayberry |first=Carly |date=2022-03-21 |title=Ukraine's head rabbi works to transport refugees to safety |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ukraines-head-rabbi-works-transport-refugees-safety-1689855 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407125321/https://www.newsweek.com/ukraines-head-rabbi-works-transport-refugees-safety-1689855 |archive-date=2022-04-07 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> He has had several viral videos in which he urged Ukrainians to resist Russian occupation. The video was seen by millions across social media.<ref name="video" />
His organization has overseen extensive aid distribution including food, clothing, medical aid, water, medical equipment, and generators. During the beginning of November, Azman coordinated with the humanitarian organization Yad Sarah to arrange shipments of surplus medical supplies to be distributed in Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-01 |title=Yad Sara Launches Emergency Shipment of Emergency Equipment to Ukraine |url=https://www.officeofchiefrabbi.org/post/yad-sara-launches-emergency-shipment-of-emergency-equipment-to-ukraine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201143215/https://www.officeofchiefrabbi.org/post/yad-sara-launches-emergency-shipment-of-emergency-equipment-to-ukraine |archive-date=2022-12-01 |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=Office of Chief Rabbi}}</ref> thumb|Aid distributions by Mitzvah for Ukraine in Kherson
His adopted son Matityahu (Anton) Samborsky died on 12 September 2024 while fighting for the country's military on the front line with Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Farewell Ceremony for Matityahu (Anton) Samborsky, Fallen Defender of Ukraine - Oj |url=https://odessa-journal.com/the-son-of-the-chief-rabbi-of-ukraine-has-been-killed-on-the-front-line |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=odessa-journal.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Son of Ukraine’s chief rabbi killed on front line with Russia |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/son-of-ukraine-s-chief-rabbi-killed-on-front-line-with-russia/3327840 |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=www.aa.com.tr}}</ref>
==International relations== Azman has dedicated himself to strengthening Israel-Ukraine relations. He has met several times with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.<ref name="bibi" /> Azman also received Nir Barkat in Ukraine. Barkat was the first Israeli politician to visit Ukraine since the beginning of the war.<ref name="nir" /> On October 28, 2022, Rabbi Azman hosted an event in collaboration with The Friends of Zion Museum. Attending were Benjamin Netanyahu, Nir Barkat, the Kosovar Ambassador to Israel and the Slovak Ambassadors to Israel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 October 2022 |title=Friends of Zion support the Ukrainian people |work=IsraelNationalNews |url=https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/361887 |url-status=live |access-date=2023-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201141710/https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/361887 |archive-date=1 December 2022}}</ref>
In May 2023, Rabbi Azman visited London, where he met with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson; Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth Ephraim Mirvis; Members of Parliament Luke Pollard, Alex Sobel, and Stephen Doughty; and John Alderdice, Baron Alderdice. They discussed the importance of Ukrainian-British solidarity and the implementation of Israeli technology in Ukraine, including water purification systems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pope |first=Felix |title=Ukraine's chief rabbi to take Israeli water purification technology to the frontline |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/world/ukraines-chief-rabbi-to-take-israeli-water-purification-technology-to-the-frontline-4zBUtimnIoCEK9zXInwBc2 |website=The Jewish Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Confino |first=Jotam |date=2023-05-15 |title=Ukraine's Chief Rabbi: Israel changed its position on Ukraine after Iran joined the war |work=Jewish News |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/ukraines-chief-rabbi-israel-changed-its-position-on-ukraine-after-iran-joined-the-war/ |url-status=live |access-date=2023-06-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601052454/https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/ukraines-chief-rabbi-israel-changed-its-position-on-ukraine-after-iran-joined-the-war/ |archive-date=2023-06-01}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Chabad}} {{authority control|state=expanded}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Azman, Moshe Reuven}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Ukrainian Orthodox rabbis Category:Religious leaders from Kyiv Ukraine Category:21st-century Ukrainian rabbis Category:20th-century Ukrainian rabbis