Chabad rabbi called security risk in Russia, ordered to leave

An American rabbi who has worked for the Chabad movement in Russia since 2002 says he and his family are facing deportation under a provision dealing with threats to national security.

Ari Edelkopf, a father of seven who grew up in the United States and lived in Israel before settling in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi as Chabad’s envoy there, writes on Facebook on Sunday that he was informed of the decision without receiving further information on specific allegations.

Amid a crackdown in Russia on organizations with foreign funding, Edelkopf’s staying permit was revoked in December, according to Interfax. He lost an appeal at the regional court, forcing him to leave Russia by February 11. He denies any involvement in political issues or crimes.

The Chabad-affiliated Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia condemns the move. Boruch Gorin, a spokesperson for the federation, says it is “far from an isolated incident” during an interview with AFP. He adds that at least seven rabbis have been forced to leave Russia in recent years for alleged immigration violations.

Gorin says this was “an attempt to establish control” on Jewish communities in Russia, which he says are serviced by some 70 rabbis, of whom half are foreign.

— JTA