An EAJC delegation attended the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions

On September 14–15, a delegation from the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) participated in the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan. In total, the capital of Kazakhstan hosted more than 100 delegations from 50 nations, including Catholic Church representatives led by Pope Francis, Islamic and Buddhist leaders, Orthodox Churches, including the Patriarch of Jerusalem, as well as the Chief Sephardic and Ashkenazi Rabbis of Israel. Forum participants discussed the role of spiritual leaders in human social and spiritual progress in the post-pandemic era.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress was represented at the event by Aaron G. Frenkel, EAJC Board Chairman, Alexander Mashkevich, EAJC Honorary President, and Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, EAJC Director General. They engaged in discussions addressing religious cooperation and the expansion of relations between Kazakhstan and Israel across various fields.

Opening the forum, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that the land of Kazakhstan "has for millennia served as a bridge between East and West." "Currently, representatives of over 100 ethnic groups live in harmony and peace in Kazakhstan, with approximately 4,000 religious associations representing 18 denominations functioning freely. We believe this of priceless value and an inherent advantage. Hosting this Congress is a critical element of Kazakhstan's strategy to foster dialogue and partnership both domestically and globally," the Head of State remarked.

During the plenary session, EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yakov addressed the assembly. In his speech, he called upon global, religious, and opinion leaders to "utilize their influence to foster acceptance, respect, dialogue, and multiculturalism."

“I am also honored to represent Israel here,” he stated. “A nation founded on centuries-old biblical values. Historically, the land of Israel has always been at the crossroads of continents, civilizations, empires, and peoples. Such a delicate geographical location demands maximum diplomatic skill from us. Under severe conditions of conflict and terror, we consistently offer peace to our neighbors. Ultimately, these efforts are bearing fruit. The recently signed 'Abraham Accords' have already brought about unprecedentedly close cooperation between Israel and the Gulf states.”

“As we can see, the synthesis of the peace process with multi-faceted exchanges in science, culture, and high technology yields far greater results than senseless hostility. This does not mean we must always agree on everything. It simply means that we maintain a civilized dialogue and can discuss our differences with patience and mutual respect. Therefore, we are on the correct path,” the EAJC Director General added.

As part of the official program, the Congress delegation, alongside Israel’s Chief Sephardic and Ashkenazi Rabbis Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau, attended a celebration marking the 18th anniversary of the Astana Synagogue. Following this, the EAJC leadership held a meeting with representatives of the local Jewish community.

Additionally, on the morning of September 15, the EAJC leaders took part in a tree-planting ceremony at the new Peace and Accord Park. During consecutive working sessions, the Congress leadership held talks with Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan, regional rabbis of Kazakhstan, prominent American rabbi Marc Schneier, Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and Mark Levin, Executive Vice President of the National Coalition Supporting Eurasian Jewry.

The history of relation-building between the Jewish community and the leadership of the Republic of Kazakhstan dates back to 2002, when a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Eurasian Rabbinical Council and the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan.

Subsequently, in February 2003, the EAJC, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and members of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kazakhstan, co-organized the first International Conference on Peace and Accord in Almaty. It was attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Afghanistan, alongside a delegation from the EAJC and American Jewish organizations. The conference produced foundational principles for dialogue between Muslim nations and world Jewry, paving the way for continued progress in this area.

In the autumn of 2003, the EAJC co-organized the First Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Astana, facilitating contact with major spiritual figures of Islam. In 2018, at the VI Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, the Chief Sephardic and Ashkenazi Rabbis of Israel participated as full delegates.

Throughout this entire period, EAJC leaders have maintained close ties with the leadership of Kazakhstan. In April 2019, a delegation of international Jewish leaders, led by Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) President Mikhael Mirilashvili, held talks with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the meeting, both parties acknowledged the robust development of the Jewish community in Kazakhstan, which receives necessary state support. At that time, EAJC leaders requested President Tokayev to consider supporting Israel within international organizations and thanked the Head of State for his consistent condemnation of antisemitism and support for the Jewish community. Furthermore, the parties discussed a wide range of issues regarding the status of the Jewish community and bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and Israel.

Over the past 30 years, both nations have achieved a high level of cooperation in the political, economic, commercial, and cultural spheres. The parties cooperate actively within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

A crucial area of bilateral relations between Israel and the Republic of Kazakhstan is trade and economic cooperation. Direct investment from Israel into the economy of Kazakhstan reached $33 million in 2021.