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The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FJCR; Russian: Федерация Еврейских Общин России, ФЕОР) is a Russian religious organization that unifies communities of Orthodox Judaism, mostly of Chabad Hassidic movement. It was registered by the Russian Ministry of Justice in 1999.
On June 13, 2000, 25 rabbis of the FJCR elected Berel Lazar as the group's leader and the Chief Rabbi of Russia, deepening a conflict with mainstream Orthodox and Reform Jewish groups in Russia that continued to recognize Adolf Shayevich as Chief Rabbi. Shayevich accused the Kremlin of meddling in internal Jewish affairs and favoring FJCR over the Vladimir Gusinsky-funded Russian Jewish Congress as the umbrella group of Russia's Jews. Gusinsky was arrested earlier in the month and seen as a business rival to Kremlin insiders. Chief Rabbi of Moscow Pinchas Goldschmidt stated that his community would not recognize Lazar's election. Mikhail Chlenov, head of the Va'ad umbrella organization stated that Lazar's election meant that he was only elected Chief Chabad Rabbi in Russia.[1]
Group leadership:[2]
- Chairman of Council of Rabbis — Berel Lazar
- Chairman of Executive Board — Alexander Boroda
- Chairman of Board of Trustees — Roman Abramovich
- Chairman of Public Council — Joseph Kobzon
- Head of Council Chairman — Mark Grubarg
FJCR says it represents the majority of religious Jewish groups in Russia.[1]
The group maintains a department of legal defense against antisemitism.[citation needed]
As of 2007, FJCR was active in 200 communities[3] in 178 cities, with rabbis in 42 communities.[citation needed] It operates Sunday schools in 73 Russian cities, and 41 synagogues, among other facilities.[2]
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