Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi: Israel changed its position on Ukraine after Iran joined the war

Israel altered its perception of the war in Ukraine after Iran supplied Russia with drones, the Chief Rabbi of Ukraine has told Jewish News in an exclusive interview. 

Rabbi Moshe Azman revealed he met with Benjamin Netanyahu several times before he was re-elected as prime minister last year, urging him that Israel needed to do more.

Azman also met with officials from the previous government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, telling them he understood Israel is in “a special situation” when it comes to the war.

“Russia is on its northern border. But I told them that we need more from Israel,” Azman said. “I also met with Nir Barkat who was in the opposition then, and he told me that Israel needs to stand with the West (on Ukraine) and that as Jewish people they couldn’t just do nothing when civilians are being killed.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. revealed photos of drones used in Ukraine that were “indistinguishable” from Iran’s Shahed-131 and -136 attack drones and Mohajer 6 UAV’s.

“It’s so simple. Look who their (Russia’s) friends are. They partnered with Iran, which seeks to destroy Israel. Their other friends are Syria, Belarus, North Korea and a few African countries,” he said.

Rabbi Azman believes that Iran’s involvement in the war in Ukraine was a game-changer for Israel.

“That’s why they understand now…. Our foreign minister told me after he met with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen that Israel changed their situation. I didn’t ask for the details because I don’t want to get involved,” Azman said.

‘Our best friend’

Rabbi Azman is currently in London where he is meeting with both Tory and Labour MP’s, as well as former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who

“The UK is our best friend. I came to thank people, it’s very important. To explain what they did for us. The humanitarian and spiritual help and the weapons they supply.

On Friday, Rabbi Azman held a speech for 500 students at the Beis Yaakov Girls School, a Haredi Jewish primary school.

“The girls gave me a check for £700 to send to Ukraine. They made the money by selling ice-cream on the street. It made me cry,” Azman said.

Rabbi Azman is also meeting with UK Chief Rabbi Mirvis on Monday and has met with other Jewish community leaders during his stay in London.

“I’m trying to organise a tour to Kiev for both British politicians and religious leaders so they can see with their own eyes what happened,” he said.

Shattered communities 

More than 15,000 Ukrainian Jews have immigrated to Israel since the beginning of the war. Rabbi Azman’s wife and small children are among those.

“When the missiles started hitting Kiev I didn’t want my small children and wife to be there so I sent them to Israel and I haven’t allowed them to come back since. My grown up children are still here with me,” he said.

All of Ukraine, he said, has been hit by the Russian army, shattering communities everywhere.

“There are missiles all over Ukraine. But the south and west have been bit hardest, the areas near the frontline,” he said.

Rabbi Azman also explained why Putin’s “denazification” campaign in Ukraine is “absurd.”

“In the beginning of the war they shot people in their cars without knowing who was in them. A Nazi? A Russian? A Ukrainian? Putin has to denazificate his own country. I was born in Leningrad where Putin was born. So I know the KGB mentality. I was invesitaged many times by the KGB,” he said.

The Chief Rabbi from Kiev has no doubt that Ukraine will win the war. And his message to the British people is clear: “I thank you. And please, when the war is over, when we have won it together, we will met for a Le’Chaim toast.”