Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), delivered a keynote address at the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Plenary Assembly in Jerusalem. Below is the full text of his statement:

“Dear colleagues, dear friends,

First and foremost, I would like to congratulate the newly elected leadership.

Mr. Lauder,
You are not just an outstanding leader of the Jewish people. You have the rare and invaluable quality of not only leading others, but continuously growing, listening to the moment, and adapting to it. That is true greatness.

Ms. Safra,
We are genuinely pleased to continue working with you. You have already shown your ability to foster an atmosphere of trust, attentiveness, and empathy. I am confident that under your leadership, our dialogue will become even deeper and more human.

Dear Aaron,
As we say in Russian: “A great ship deserves a great voyage.”
We are proud to have worked alongside you. Let me share a secret: everything Aaron touches becomes better and more successful. We hope you will remain with us in the Euro-Asian Congress, even in your new role.

We live in a time when words are no longer enough. The time has come for action.

Today, the Jewish people face challenges that cannot be overcome with diplomatic phrasing or slow-moving bureaucracy. We must act — decisively, swiftly, and with courage.

Let me highlight two issues that demand our immediate attention.

First: the rise of antisemitism.

We are witnessing its return — in a new, insidious, ever-shifting form, like a virus adapting to a new reality. It appears in places we never expected. It wears masks: political criticism, social slogans, cultural “sensitivity.”

But we have a tool — the IHRA definition of antisemitism. It is not just a declaration; it is a clear and effective standard. It allows us to distinguish between real hatred and political rhetoric.

We must stand firmly on this foundation.

Only then can we build meaningful partnerships with governments and societies — based on clarity, responsibility, and the demand that the protection of Jewish communities become a matter of real and urgent action, not just empty words.

Second: the relationship between Israel and the Diaspora.

Today, during the days of Sefirat HaOmer, we recall the tragedy of Rabbi Akiva’s students. Their failure to respect one another led to catastrophe. We must learn from that pain: there is no future without mutual respect, without unity.

Today is not a time for disputes. Today is a time for mutual support.

The world must see our unity. Jews in Israel and Jews in the Diaspora are not separate peoples — we share one destiny.

When we are united, diplomatic breakthroughs become possible. When we are divided, even victories can feel like defeats.

We must remember: almost every Israeli family today bears the trauma of October 7.

We survived exile, pogroms, and genocide because we held on to one another. And when we did, God stood with us.

We are one people. And we share one destiny.

Let us live up to the greatness of our heritage. Let us protect, build, and unite — together.

All Jewish souls are bound together. And when we remember this, it becomes easier to fulfill the commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

No one fulfills this commandment better than the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces. We pray for the swift release of all the hostages and for victory over our enemies.

Thank you. Am Yisrael Chai!”