So Putin decided to do something good and give a unique collection of books and documents called “Schneerson Library” to the Jewish Museum in Moscow. The Library represents a unique collection of Judaica that was nationalized after the 1917 revolution. After decades of state-sponsored anti-Semitism, this was a very positive move in the direction of acceptance of the few Jews who still mysteriously remain in Russia.
Of course, Putin wouldn’t be Putin if he didn’t spoil the moment with something egregiously stupid.
“Let’s remember,” he said in a speech that accompanied the gift, “that the first Soviet government was 85% Jewish anyways. Those Jews persecuted, killed and tortured everybody: the Russian Orthodox people, the Muslims, and fellow Jews.”
This is obviously a lie because out of the 15 members of the Soviet government that nationalized the Schneerson Library only one was a Jew. But the old anti-Semitic trope of the October Revolution being a product of a Jewish conspiracy remains alive. Spain’s fascist dictator Franco loved this myth, so Putin is in a curious company on this issue.
Clarissa's Blog 
Putin certainly is in “curious company.” Unfortunately, he has many fond companions in that company.
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Vicious, nasty little dictator. What harm have Jews ever done to him?
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Well yes, of course he is. However, according to Jonathan Turley Putin thinks our domestic snooping is peachy.
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Ha ha ha!!! This is the best! Finally, Obama found his way to Putin’s heart. This is the joke of the week. Thank you for the link!
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I wonder if Putin’s worried his head would explode if he ever made a vaguely positive or neutral statement about Jews without undercutting it with antisemitic myths.
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This comment was so completely gratuitous and useless that I’m wondering whether his health issues are catching up with him. I mean, what’s the point of making a gift and then antagonizing people in the same breath??
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He didn’t want any Russian anti-semits to hold this gift against him. Seriously. And the Jews are supposed to be very grateful for every crumb they get.
Although, if the 1st Soviet government was 85% Jewish, it hints that since Putin’s gov isn’t so, all Soviet inclinations and problems are a thing of the past. No connection between people in power today and those evil (Jewish) communists.
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The Russian neo-Nazis hate him as it is. It’s kind of too late to try to gain favor with them. But the guy isn’t known for his profound intelligence, so who can say for sure?
“Although, if the 1st Soviet government was 85% Jewish, it hints that since Putin’s gov isn’t so, all Soviet inclinations and problems are a thing of the past. No connection between people in power today and those evil (Jewish) communists.”
– Yes, I think this is the basic idea here.
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// The Russian neo-Nazis hate him as it is. It’s kind of too late to try to gain favor with them.
I didn’t refer to some special neo-Nazis. Just to the average citizen on the street. Being too “close to the Jews” wouldn’t look so good. Probably the Church wouldn’t like it either, but even without it, the point stands.
RE Iran, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs published:
http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2013/Pages/Iran-will-continue-to-be-judged-by-its-actions-15-Jun-2013.aspx
Unfortunately, they may be right. Could be only a tactical change in reality, using “moderation” to buy more time for nuclear “peaceful” program. Well, we’ll see.
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