Tens of tons of matzo have been delivered to Jewish communities across Europe and Asia

Despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak, the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress has delivered dozens of tons of matzo to Jewish communities across the Euro-Asian region. We express our gratitude to everyone whose efforts ensured that communities in India, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and other nations received matzo boxes in time for the Passover Seder: Rabbi David Mondshine, Director of the Ohr Avner Foundation, as well as Merab Chanchalashvili, Guram Batiashvili, Elena Berkovich, Alexander Baron, Rimma Varzhapetyan, Shota Mireli, Irina Shcherban, Evgenia Lvova, Vladimir Kritzman, Alexander Bilinkis, Sumati Luvsandendev, Ljiljana Vukovic, and Rabbi Shaya Deitsch.

As part of this annual initiative, running for over fifteen years, the EAJC provides matzo and essential provisions to underprivileged members of Jewish communities throughout the Euro-Asian region. This year, the project organizers received a record volume of requests from communities facing severe hardships due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Specifically, the project facilitated the Moscow Public Organization of Jewish Former Ghetto and Nazi Concentration Camp Survivors in coordinating the distribution of medications, matzo, and kosher food packages for Passover. The organization's head, Oleg Mortkovich, reported the establishment of a five-member emergency task force to maintain continuous contact with the former survivors, many of whom require professional nursing care.

Matzo and kosher juice for the holiday were also delivered to beneficiaries of the "Sheket" program, which supports deaf and hard-of-hearing Jews, and the "Integration" social Jewish project for children with disabilities (Moscow).

“In addition to delivering matzo, we have extended emergency financial assistance to communities and organizations affiliated with the Congress. The world is gripped by a pandemic, and we must all mobilize our efforts to ensure that Jewish life in the Diaspora continues to thrive,” stated Dr. Mikhael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

“Under the current circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic, many of our sponsors were unable to transfer their contributions, forcing us to implement extraordinary measures to support those, many of whom belong to high-risk groups. In these challenging times, people felt they were not alone, and that the Jewish community is mindful of and cares for them,” said Irina Shcherban, Head of the Moscow Jewish Community House and the Association of Jewish Community Centers of the CIS.