Last Friday, which was the day before 20th Menachem Av, the anniversary of Rabbi Schneerson’s passing, the conference was held with various government representatives from the Justice Ministry, the ministry’s Religious Affairs Department, army officers, officers from the prisons’ service, and an assortment of religious leaders. The theme of the conference was how to expand the possibility of allowing complete religious freedom to every citizen under Kazakh law.
The Chief Rabbi of Astana, Rabbi Yom Tov Yehudah Kubalkin spoke on behalf of the country’s Chief Rabbi Yeshayah Elazar Cohen. He emphasized the divine providence that this conference was held exactly 66 yeas after the passing of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok., who was jailed and exiled to Kazakhstan precisely because he was a Rabbi. Such actions are contrary to the policies of modern Kazakhstan. Moreover, the present government has absolved him of any guilt. “The difference between those years when following the Creator and observing any religion was a crime and against the law and this conference, which is completely devoted to how to help religious citizens observe their faith is like going from the darkness into the light,” concluded Rabbi Kubalkin.
The participants in the conference focused on how to give more religious freedom to army personnel, soldiers, the prison administration, and inmates, granting them suitable conditions for religious observance. During the conference, the possibility of having army chaplains such as in the United States and other western countries was raised. Even in Russia, there are chaplains in the army. The role of a chaplain is to provide spiritual assistance to anyone interested in following religious events or in living his daily life in accordance with the principles of his religion. Rabbi Kubalkin observed that in prisons, there should be a possibility of rehabilitating the inmates rather than simply punishing them. They need to learn how to return to a positive culture by reinforcing their religious beliefs. This would give prisoners the tools to return to society and leave behind their crimes. “The law does not always catch the criminal,” noted Rabbi Kubalkin. ”But God fills the world with His glory. He sees and He watches him and looks into his heart and innermost essence.”
The administration of the conference has promised to update the Kazakhstan Rabbinate with any developments in the issues that were discussed.
