Moscow synagogue invites congregants to appear in Stalin TV series. Casting call seeks ‘Jews by nationality or of Jewish appearance.’

The Moscow Choral Synagogue has invited its congregants to appear in a four-part television series about Soviet Communist Party General Secretary Joseph Stalin.

An announcement published on the synagogue’s Facebook page says filming will take place on the afternoon of May 31. The post describes the project as “a military-historical film by director Vladimir Bortko, produced by the studio TriIks” but does not give the film’s title.

Bortko himself confirmed that the film is called Stalin. He had previously said he wanted the film to “debunk the myth about Comrade Stalin, which has been taking shape for a long time, beginning with the 20th Congress of the Communist Party.”

Bortko said the series is not meant to portray Stalin as “good or bad.” “We want to show Stalin as he, it seems to me, actually was. And that is very important not only for me, but for people,” he told the Russian state news agency TASS.

The synagogue’s announcement says congregants are being recruited for a scene depicting the 1949 Moscow meeting with Israel’s ambassador Golda Meir. The production team “needs men and women to play Jews,” with the post specifying: “Requirements: Jews by nationality or of Jewish appearance. Age: 17–70.” Participants are offered “a small compensation for their time,” a kosher lunch, and access to a buffet.

Social media users have already suggested the film will carry an “antisemitic odor” and called Jewish participation in the project a disgrace, the outlet Podyom reports. Bortko pushed back, telling journalists that “it’s the opposite.” “Tell all Jews that it’s the opposite. Not only should there be no concern — I invite all Jews to the shoot to shout as loud as possible: ‘Golda, Golda!’” he said.

The years of Joseph Stalin’s rule, especially the later ones, were marked by a surge of antisemitism in the USSR. Among other things, this manifested in the repression and execution of members of the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee and the Doctors’ Plot.

In recent years, Russia has seen a growing trend of rehabilitating Stalin’s image. For example, an increasing number of Stalin monuments are appearing across the country. They are mostly erected by private individuals on private property — something that is not regulated by law.