Kosher teachings

Following Orthodox priests, mullahs and rabbis will appear on army training grounds

For the first time in the history of the Russian army, representatives of four traditional Russian faiths - Orthodox priests, mullahs, rabbis and lamas - will take part in the Center-2008 exercises, which are scheduled to start at the end of September on the territory of the Volga-Ural Military District. Of course, one should not expect religious ministers in camouflage and full combat gear to appear in the ranks of military personnel. To Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's: soldiers and officers of the 2nd Guards Army will practice combat skills under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces, Army General Vladimir Boldyrev, and the clergy will take up their direct responsibility - the “spiritual nourishment” of the soldiers.

For Russia's largest denomination, the Russian Orthodox Church, the presence of regimental priests at exercises is a revival of a lost tradition. After all, the institution of chaplains was introduced by Peter I in 1716, and until the October Revolution, not a single battle took place without the priest’s blessing of the Christ-loving army. In March 2006, with the blessing of Patriarch Alexy II and with the approval of the General Staff, an experiment was launched in the troops to revive the service of priests permanently assigned to the troops. In the same year, the Main Military Prosecutor's Office came up with a corresponding bill, but the institution of Orthodox chaplains was not approved by law. Since modern Russia, by all accounts, is not only a multinational, but also a multi-religious country, representatives of other faiths, primarily the leaders of Islamic associations, expressed their dissatisfaction with the fact that the Russian Orthodox Church is “pulling the blanket on itself.” They motivated their opinion by the fact that almost half of the religious military personnel are Muslims. However, according to official data, 8% of Muslims serve in the Russian army, 9% are Jews, Buddhists and adherents of other religions, and the overwhelming majority of believers - 83% - are Orthodox.

Be that as it may, in June last year, the four traditional faiths finally came to a common opinion. At the V All-Russian educational and methodological gatherings of military clergy, held in one of the garrisons of the Novgorod region, the hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church, representatives of the spiritual administrations of Muslims, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia (FEOR) and the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia agreed that each of the faiths has the right to “second "to the troops of their clergy (see Vremya Novostei, June 27, 2007) . Then Muslim muftis showed interest in the “advanced experience” of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The peculiarity of the current teachings is that representatives of a smaller, but no less traditional Russian confession - Judaism - will take an active part in them. As reported by the press service of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, in order to “satisfy the religious needs of military personnel” professing the Jewish religion, it is planned to locate a marching synagogue at the training ground. “It should be noted that this year the interaction between the FJR and the Russian army has reached a new level,” stressed the press secretary of this religious association, Daniil Yakovlev, in a conversation with a Vremya Novostey correspondent. -- The department for interaction with the armed forces, the Ministry of Emergency Situations and law enforcement agencies, headed by Rabbi Aaron Gurevich, is actively working. He will also be present during the current military exercises in the Volga-Ural District, because military professing Judaism will need to be provided with both spiritual literature and kosher products.” In particular, Jewish clergy will be present at the training grounds in the Orenburg region from September 24 to 25.

According to Mr. Yakovlev, the FEOR does not at all insist on the introduction of regimental rabbis by analogy with military chaplains - the work of the department for interaction with the army is focused on the legal guardianship of Jewish military personnel, protecting them from “arbitrariness and moral and psychological pressure.” “In addition to providing believers with prayer materials, religious books and non-perishable food packages, the Federation of Jewish Communities assists in resolving legal issues, insuring military personnel against accidents, and assists in processing applications for short-term leave,” explained the FJC press service.

Mikhail MOSHKIN