Goldshmidt Pinkhas Solomonovich

Pinchas Goldschmidt (Pinkhas Solomonovich Goldshmidt) - for the beginning of 2019, the chief rabbi of Moscow, the head of rabbinic court in Russia, the chairman of the board of rabbis of Europe, the head of rabbinic court in CIS and Baltic countries. One of the actual heads of Russian Jewish Congress.

Biography

Pinkhas Goldshmidt was born on July 21, 1963 in Zurich. The grandfather on the maternal line was from the Carpathian Hasidim. Parents are religious Jews, live in Zurich, it already fourth generation. His great-grandfather was the chief rabbi of Denmark, and then — the chief rabbi of Zurich. The father Solomon was engaged in business — development of automated systems for transfer of clothes on warehouses. Mother call Elisabeth. The younger brother is the rabbi of a synagogue of Cape Town in the Republic of South Africa.

The wife Pinkhasa, Dara Goldshmidt from influential American family of Brodie. They are relatives to Rothschild. Dara's brother is Tom Brody, for the beginning of 2019, one of top managers of Rothschild Capital Partners.

Dara Goldshmidt's father was a Congressman of the USA and was an influential republican.

One more relative is Bendzhiamin Goldshmidt the deputy chief rabbi of the richest synagogue of Manhattan on Park East (USA).

Pinkhas Goldshmidt has spiritual and secular education. Got a traditional Jewish education in two eshiva of the world: "Поневеж" (Bney-Braque, Israel), Ner Isroel (Baltimore, USA). In parallel graduated from Hopkins's University in Baltimore. Has the master's degree. Has a rabbinic smikha (diploma).

In 1987 — 1989 worked in the rabbinate of Natseret-Ilit (Israel) where took active part in spiritual absorption of repatriates from the USSR.

In 1989 according to instructions of the spiritual mentor of Rabi Moshe Soloveychik and also at the request of the main rabbinate of Israel and the World Jewish congress arrived to Moscow as the lecturer of Institute of studying of the Judaism at Academy of Sciences of the USSR headed by the rabbi Adin Shteynzalts. In 1989 by the invitation of the Chief rabbi of Russia Adolf Shayevich headed rabbinic court of the USSR, and since 1993 became the chief rabbi of Moscow.

At this time Pinkhas Goldshmidt gives substantial lobbist support to Mikhail Friedman (Alfa Group). In 2014 it could help with removal of blocking which was imposed by Angela Merkel on purchase of gas company of RWE of DEA by Friedman. As a result the transaction took place and Friedman purchased RWE of DEA for €5.1 billion.

Pinkhas has close ties with France. In 2016 it is awarded the order an honourable legion of France.

For 2019 Pinkhas Goldshmidt is the actual leader of "Lithuanian Jews" - adherents of the Lithuanian hasidut whose center in Russia is the Moscow Choral Synagogue on Kitay-gorod. At this time it has one of the most serious resources of influence in comparison with other Jewish leaders of Russia (Berel Lazar and the Beard) with whom is in the conflict. At the same time the last limit its communications with the Russian President Administration.

See Also

• Judaism in Russia