In a move reminiscent of Stalinist times, the Russian State Prosecutor has ordered an investigation of Russia's Congress of Jewish Organizations because the group has distributed an abbreviated Russian translation of the Shulkhan Arukh, a classic code of Jewish law compiled in the 16th century. According to a report in today's Haaretz, the Prosecutor is looking into whether statements in the work regarding the treatment of non-Jews constitute racist incitement and anti-Russian material. The inquiry, which has been reported widely in the Russian press, follows an increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Russia.
UPDATE: On Tuesday, June 28, the Russian State Prosecutor announced that he is cancelling this investigation, according to a report in Haaretz.
