A rare collection of sacred Jewish texts (compiled by the original members of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, seized by the Russians and now molding somewhere in the former Soviet Union) had its story told last week in front of The Helsinki Commission, also known as the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Everyone wants to help get this 12,000+ volume library back to its original owners: Sen. Norm Coleman, (R-Minn.) wrote a letter advocating the return of The Schneerson Collection to Chabad and had it signed by every single senator, which found its way to Russian President Putin via President Bush during his trip last February. Also fighting for the cause was Jon Voight (famous for playing creepy guys and spawning Angelina Jolie,) who spoke to the Commission on behalf of Chabad’s West Coast director Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cumin.
“Everyone asks, ‘What is your connection to him and his cause?'” Voight said of Cunin. “Since I am of Catholic faith, I understand the basic values of life, including the Ten Commandments, and they say, ‘Thou shalt not steal.'”
In spite of all this pressure, the Russians ain’t givin’ ’em up. We propose a trade: give us back the books, Putin, and you can have Jon Voight!