Only a month following the extension of his 33-year term by seven years, Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt was dismissed from his role as the chief rabbi of Moscow after he refused to back the war in Ukraine.
Rabbi Goldschmidt – who also serves as president of the Conference of European Rabbis - left Moscow five months ago after refusing to make a public statement in support of the Russian invasion of its neighbor.
Since his departure, he has traveled to Hungary where he helped Jewish war refugees, and then arrived in Israel.
Goldschmidt and his fiancé admitted that political pressures coerced them to leave Russia. This is after the couple initially claimed that the departure was due to their need to attend to Goldschmidt's sick father, hospitalized in Israel.
Meanwhile, press secretary of the Jewish Community in Moscow - Olga Yasawlova, denied Goldschmidt's claims that he was ousted. According to her and another official from the Central Synagogue of Moscow he left when his contract expired.
Jewish community members said that naming Goldschmidt's successor is not currently being discussed. Filling the position is Rabbi David Yushubayev, appointed by Rabbi Goldschmidt as his replacement.
"I thank God that I had the opportunity to be part of the Jewish resurrection story after the fall of communism," the rabbi said. "This is a special time in the history of the Jewish people, and I will continue to serve the European community, and also serve and continue to help the community in Moscow from afar."