Berel Lazar
Rabbi Berel Lazar | |
|---|---|
Lazar in April 2021 | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | May 19, 1964 |
| Nationality | Russian, American |
| Spouse | Channa Deren |
| Children | 13: Bluma, Yechezkel, Mendel, Sholom, Fradel, Yisrael, Levi Yitzchak, Leah, Sara, Bracha, Rivka, Miriam, Shaina |
| Alma mater | Rabbinical College of America |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Judaism |
| Denomination | Hasidic Judaism |
| Position | Chief Rabbi of Russia |
| Organisation | Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia |
| Began | June 13, 2000 |
| Dynasty | Chabad Lubavitch |
Shlomo Dov Pinchas Lazar (born May 19, 1964), better known as Berel Lazar, is an Orthodox, Chabad-Lubavitch Hasidic rabbi. He began his service in Russia in 1990. Known for his friendship with Vladimir Putin, since 2000, he has been a Chief Rabbi of Russia (one of two claimants to the title), and chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and Federation of Jewish Communities of the CIS. In September 2005 Lazar became a member of the Public Chamber of Russia. Because of his connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin he is sometimes called "Putin's rabbi."