 Service cautioned that there was "no irrefutable evidence" of anti-Semitism in Stalin's published work, although his private statements and public actions were "undeniably reminiscent of crude antagonism towards Jews"; he added that throughout Stalin's lifetime, the Georgian "would be the friend, associate or leader of countless individual Jews".According to Beria, Stalin had affairs with several Jewish women.Friendship was important to Stalin, and he used it to gain and maintain power.