Vadim Rabinovich
Vadim Zinov'evich Rabinovich (sometimes spelled Vadym Rabynovich (Ukrainian: Вадим Зіновійович Рабинович; Russian: Вади́м Зино́вьевич Рабино́вич; born 4 August 1953, Kharkiv, USSR) is a Ukrainian media mogul. He is the president of the Ukrainian Jewish Parliament and Vice President of the European Jewish Union.[1] Rabinovich obtained Israeli citizenship in the early 1990s.[2]
Rabinovich had a furniture import business, and later exported natural gas from Ukraine. Rabinovich was convicted in Ukraine for a variety of crimes and stripped of Ukrainian citizenship, but left the country and obtained Israeli citizenship. The conviction was later reversed and the Ukrainian citizenship restored. In 1996 Rabinovich was appointed chairman of Israeli-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce. A naturalized Israeli citizen, Rabinovich maintains homes in Ukraine and Israel.[3] Rabinovich had his visa to the United States revoked in 1995 reportedly due to his links with criminal arm dealers.[2]
In 1997 Rabinovich created (and lead) the All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress in 1997.[2] He dissolved that organization in April 1999 to create a new one named the United Jewish Community of Ukraine, which promptly elected him its leader.[2]
From 2007-2013, Rabinovich was president of FC Arsenal Kyiv, a professional football club in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. The club filed for bankruptcy in October of 2013.
Rabinovich is also well known for his philanthropic activities. He donated a golden menorah that now overlooks the Western Wall Plaza. He also donated over 10 mil NIS towards restoration of the Hurva Synagogue.[4][5] Many Jewish leaders believe he is trying to buy positive publicity to make up for the negative publicity that his financial and political activities have drawn.[2]
Rabinovich donated funds that helped finance the reconstruction of the old city Hurva Synagogue, which stands in case in the square that was named after him. The reason the square was named after him was because people thought he was dead, and the square was named "Vadim Rabinovich Z"L" (meaning "may his/ her memory be a blessing" in Hebrew) Councilwoman Rachel Azaria made a petitioned[6] Supreme Court of Israel to rescind the naming of the square saying it was under pretense. The high court accepted the petition made by Azaria and revoked the naming of the square after him. By law it is forbidden to name streets and public venues in Jerusalem after living people,[7] and by law it is forbidden to name streets and public venues in the old city of Jerusalem after people that were born after the 15th century.
On 4 March 2013 an explosion in Kiev near the office of Rabynovych, where his channel Jewish News One. It injured nobody but was believed to be a murder attempt; Rabynovych himself suspected All-Ukrainian Union "Svoboda" of the attack but they denied any involvement.[8]
References
- ↑ European Jewish Union assists in the revival of Montenegro’s tiny Jewish community
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Rabinovich rallies his supporters, Kyiv Post (8 April 1999)
- ↑ http://www.jpost.com/LandedPages/PrintArticle.aspx?id=67110
- ↑ Hurva Synagogue restoration nears completion, Jerusalem Post, 28 March 2008.
- ↑ From ruin to reconstruction, the Hurva Synagogue is completed – again, Jewish Journal, 9 March 2010.
- ↑ Naming of Old City plaza after oligarch stirs debate, Jerusalem Post, 1 June 2012.
- ↑ Why was Old City square named after Ukrainian oligarch, 500 years before his time?, The Time of Israel, 1 May 2012
- ↑ No one injured in bomb explosion at Rabynovych's office in Kyiv, Kyiv Post (4 March 2013)
Tiahnybok denies involvement in attack on Rabynovych, Kyiv Post (6 March 2013)