The EAJC participated in the annual conference Jerusalem Post: The Future is Now

Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, addressed the 10th annual Jerusalem Post The Future is Now conference. This year's speaker lineup also featured Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Israeli Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Yair Lapid, Minister of the Interior Ayelet Shaked, World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder, and many other distinguished guests.

The conference traditionally celebrates the innovation and achievements of Israel. This year, significant emphasis was placed on how Israel transitioned from a start-up nation to a global leader in vaccination rates, serving as a beacon and guide for the international community in combatting the Covid-19 pandemic.

Throughout the conference, speakers and panelists discussed the public health, economic, and security challenges facing Israel, as well as the dynamics of the relationship between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora.

In his address, EAJC President Dr. Mirilashvili stated:

“Even before the establishment of the State of Israel, Zionist thinkers envisioned a central role for the new Jewish state within the global Jewish world. It was already clear that not all Jewish people worldwide would choose to reside in the Jewish state, making the development of relations between the 'Diaspora' and the nation representing the entire Jewish community an inevitable and vital necessity.

One model for this relationship involves building a politically and economically robust state, leading in science and culture, toward which Jews around the world would look. The new state was destined to be a 'light' not only to nations, but to global Jewry as well. While the young state had to fight for its survival and address numerous domestic challenges seventy years ago, today Israel must view its relationship with the Diaspora and its broader global role through a wider lens.

Indeed, Israel is currently perceived as a nation bringing a 'light unto the nations' across various sectors, including social initiatives, emerging technologies, innovation, and unconventional approaches to complex modern challenges. Operating as a businessman in multiple countries around the globe, I witness this firsthand every day. We, as Israelis, are frequently regarded as miracle-workers capable of resolving the most intricate issues.”

The full address by the EAJC President and a recording of the conference are available below: