Israeli General explains Shorashim
Brigadier-General [Res] Elazar Stern has been addressing the Sydney community on the workings of Shorashim Centre which attempts to prove the Jewish roots of Soviet immigrants in Israel.
Elazar Stern has a word for Harry Triguboff
Elazar Stern talks…Shalom Norman and Dr Ron Weiser listen
Accompanied by Shalom Norman who represents the Harry O. Triguboff Institute, the general explained the difficulties those Russians who cannot prove their Jewish identity and how that impacts on their personal life. Shorashim, supported by the Triguboff Institute combs records in the former Soviet Union in an attempt to evidence individual cases. The gernal spoke of how the IDF have introduced a three month conversion acceptable by the Beth Din as SHorashim fights for a pragmatic and practical solution to the problems facing those who cannot prove their Jewishness.
The general will visit Melbourne this week and has spoken in Sydney at a function organised by the State Zionist Council of New South Wales and at Sydney’s Central Synagogue. He also addressed a private function at the home of Harry Triguboff.
It is believed that the problem affects more than one million immigrants.
Shalom Norman said: “Most of the immigrants, not only in Israel but in many other countries of the world including the US never realise there is any doubt about their Jewish identity until theywant to marry or are buried. The former Soviet Union issued neither ketubot nor Jewish burial records.”
