Yakov Geller: ‘Skoblionok is my friend, but…’

Jews in the administration of Tatarstan

Actually Mikhail Skoblionok was hasty. He is a very clever man and big politician. Skoblionok is my friend, but I would not agree with his words. What is more, my son and the Deputy Minister of Communications and Information of the Republic of Tatarstan Anatoly Geller, Tatarstan President's Aide Natalia Fishman, the head of Tatar-inform Leonid Tolchinsky also don't agree with him. And other people would do the same thing. It would be strange if a Tatar headed Israel-inform. And everyone would smile. But in Tatarstan, it is possible.

Among those who was present at the meeting of all heads with the President of Tatarstan a minimum of four people, who we already know, don't share Skoblionok's point of view. If he said that there were not Jews in the government of the republic, it does not mean that Jews don't deputize ministerial posts.

I suppose that Skoblionok was indignant that the parcel near the synagogue was not given to him. If I were in the City Administration, I would give that land because it was historically bought up in tsarist times. The City Administrationprobably has its personal point of view. This is why the national question cannot be considered here.

'If I were in the City Administration, I would give that land because it was historically bought up in tsarist times.' Photo: Maksim Platonov

'National division of people is a bad form'

Generally speaking, it is a bad form to divide people concerning their nationality. Tatars, Russians, Bashkirs, Chuvash and Mordvin peoples… 160 nationalities lived in Chelny when I was working there. We were not divided. We all celebrated Sacrifice Feast, Eater, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah together.

Nationality was always a secondary characteristic. The key one is the importance of a person in a circle of friends.

There was a story. Our Symphonic Orchestra visited the USA during the Soviet era. The conductor of the orchestra tells to the American one: 'Why do you think that there is anti-Semitism in the USSR? For instance, a half of my musicians are Jews'. In answer to him, the American conductor says: 'I don't know how much Jews I have in the orchestra'.

Nowadays when America started to count how much African Americans were awarded Oscar, it has a negative impact on everything. My father lives in Ukraine, and he is in his ninety-three years. He says to me: 'I wish I did not live to see the world when I put my orders on and warily go outside because the reaction of this nationalistic scum is unknown'. His jacket is groaning under the weight of his orders, while he is embarrassed to wear his jacket on Victory Day and go outside. This is today's situation.

'In Jerusalem, when you are on the Mount of Olives, you see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at your back and neighbouring Al-Aqsa Mosque and Western Wall, the latter is right ahead. And all people live in peace.' Photo: vidania.ru

Unity of religions

I grew up in Zhytomyr. There is a place where I took panoramic photos rotating through 30 degrees about my axis. An Orthodox and Catholic churches, a half-moon above a mosque and synagogue were together in one photo. It is a unity of religions.

In Jerusalem, when you are on the Mount of Olives, you see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre at your back and neighbouring Al-Aqsa Mosque and Western Wall, the latter is right ahead. And all people live in peace. Muslims have the key of the Christian church. They open it in the morning and close in the evening. The unity of religions is here.

In Kazan, if you are on the corner of Profsoyuznaya street, you can see Kul Sharif Mosque, Spassky Church and the synagogue. It is the unity in Tatarstan thanks to Mintimer Shaimiev and Rustam Minnikhanov. By the way, it was a right decision to award Minnikhanov Fiddler on the Roof statuette for support, Day of Jewish song, he helped Skoblionok to organize it, for the synagogue and the 12^th School.

'It was a right decision to award Minnikhanov Fiddler on the Roof statuette for support, Day of Jewish song, he helped Skoblionok to organize it, for the synagogue and the 12^th School.' Photo: tatar-inform.ru

Principle of three NOs

There is a slogan 'Beat yids, save Russia!'. Do you think it has something to do with the Jews? No one knows who is a yid. Chinese people can be yids, when in 1969, a military conflict arose on Zhenbao Island. The word may refer to Georgians when there was a flare-up of tension with Georgia. It is not just an anti-semitic slogan but a criminal one.

Anti-semitism and islamophobia appeared in France.

Yes, traditional anti-semitism existed in our country, when a 'case of doctors' was opened in 1953, when thousands of Jewish families were to be repatriated and wagons for this purpose were prepared. But it was Stalin!

How to reassure people what was drummed into their head though Pravda newspaper… It cannot be forgotten. Yes, the Jews left the country. Yes, the principle of three NOs was applied: not to employ, not to discharge, not to promote. There were quotas on the admission of Jews to institutes.

But we are not living in the Soviet era. You do what you want regardless of dollar price.

'The country needs Jewish brains'

How did the late Lyonya Sonts, Lyonya Steinberg, I appear here? Many people came to get into the Kazan Aviation Institute because Kazan a centre of tolerance.

'When Misha (Mikhail) says that a Jew of sound judgment won't go to Russia, I don't agree with him. I don't agree just because I did not go to Israel. Russia is my motherland!' Photo: Roman Khasaev

My father was sent to the front from Bolshie Achasyry settlement of Zelenodolsk District. My mother was evacuated here in Zelenodolsk by a Tatar family. It is a centre of tolerance and a good attitude to the nations but not a parcel near the synagogue.

Putin's invitation of Jews to Russia is equal to the invitation of Kazan to people from western regions to escape the Germans.

Putin ironically but justly noted: 'What are you complaining of? If you feel bad there, come to Russia'. The country needs Jewish brains and the enthusiasm of the nation.

When Misha (Mikhail) says that a Jew of sound judgment won't go to Russia, I don't agree with him. I don't agree just because I did not go to Israel. Russia is my motherland!