Author: Anshel Pfeffer

Source: Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/955554.html

Russia's Jewish community is concerned about a possible government decision to allow the Pravoslav Orthodox Church to teach the principles of Christianity in all government schools. Now local Jewish leaders are trying to enlist Muslim community leaders in a fight against the decision.

Officially, Russia maintains a separation of church and state, but under Vladimir Putin's rule, the government and church have grown closer. Nonetheless, Putin refused for a long time to make Christianity a mandatory school subject. But in recent months, there have been hints from the Russian education ministry that Putin no longer objects.