Many experts think that this initiative would help soften tensions between Russia and the West

MOSCOW, November 12. /TASS/. Russian rabbis are calling on European Jewish communities to help ease or lift sanctions against Russia. Many experts think that this initiative would help soften tensions between Russia and the West. Moscow’s deputy chief rabbi Shimon Levin called on his colleagues to help ease sanctions against Moscow, speaking at a conference of European rabbis. "Due to balanced state policy, anti-Semitism in Russia is at a record low," Levin told the conference, bringing together over 700 rabbis. "Sanctions are harmful for Russia’s Jewish community and have significantly worsened its economic situation," he said, adding that European rabbis could influence leaders of their countries so that they lifted or softened anti-Russia sanctions. Russia’s Jewish leaders have already touched upon the problem of sanctions on the international scene. In April, Moscow’s chief rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt called for the help of Pope Francis in normalising relations between Russia and the West.

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"European rabbis took this proposal into consideration," Shimon Levin told TASS on Thursday. "Some rabbis did not perceive this call well but the overwhelming majority were positive about it. I explained to them that sanctions were very bad for Russia’s Jewish community, and European communities should help each other." He said the conference was attended by chief rabbis from many European countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Italy. "There is such a term as soft diplomacy," he said. "Obviously, a rabbi is not a foreign ministry official but as these countries have large and strong Jewish communities we are hoping for some results." "The Jewish community and Judaism's leaders are influential enough to seek the partial lifting of sanctions or easing them in some economic sectors for a number of companies and banks," Kommersant daily quoted Roman Lunkin, president of the Guild of Religion and Law Experts, as saying.