Jewish leaders and diplomats laid wreaths at the Monument to the Defenders of Leningrad in Jerusalem

To mark the 75th anniversary of the victory over Nazism, Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov and President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili laid a wreath at the Candle of Remembrance monument in Jerusalem.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Environmental Protection, and Cultural Heritage Zeev Elkin, Chairperson of the Association of Leningrad Blockade Survivors Emilia Larina, Chairman of the Association of World War II Veterans Avraham Grinzaid, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Dr. Haim Ben-Yakov, project initiator and former Knesset Member Leonid Litinetsky, Director General of KKL-Eurasia and former Knesset Member Igal Yasinov, Director General of the Jerusalem Development Authority Eyal Haimovsky, representatives of the JNF-KKL, and other distinguished guests. To honor Victory Day, ambassadors and diplomatic staff from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, and Uzbekistan also laid flowers at the monument.

Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Environmental Protection, and Cultural Heritage Zeev Elkin stated: "Regrettably, the significance of the victory in World War II is not clear to everyone in the world today. In some countries, the role of the Red Army in defeating Nazi Germany is understated. Israel stands as the only Western nation where, far from witnessing the distressing demolition of Red Army monuments, new memorials are instead being erected. For the Israeli government, the victory in World War II remains a cornerstone of our heritage. We recognize that our state would not exist were it not for the 1945 victory."

"Today, on the 75th anniversary of the great victory, we remember with profound gratitude all those who, at the cost of their lives, brought this day closer," said EAJC President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili. "Victory Day represents a celebration of the glory and valor of all nations that defeated Nazism. Our duty today is to preserve historical truth and immortalize the memory of these heroes. While several nations dismantle monuments and attempt to erase the lessons of history, we establish new memorials to pass this memory down to future generations and prevent such a tragedy from recurring." 

Chairman of the Association of World War II Veterans Avraham Grinzaid remarked: "This monument symbolizes not only grief for the fallen but also joy for the survivors, and for a city that defended its freedom in battle. It serves as a reminder that our peoples stood united in a common struggle and prevailed."

The Candle of Remembrance monument in Jerusalem, unveiled on January 23, 2020, in the presence of top Russian and Israeli officials, is dedicated to the heroic defenders and residents of Leningrad during the siege.

The initiative to establish the monument was spearheaded by the World War II Veterans Council, the Association of Leningrad Blockade Survivors in Israel, former Knesset Member Leonid Litinetsky, EAJC President M.M. Mirilashvili, and the External Relations Committee of the St. Petersburg Government.

The inauguration ceremony of the Candle of Remembrance monument in the capital of Israel marked the launch of a dedicated Euro-Asian Jewish Congress program aimed at preserving historical memory and fostering mutual understanding among nations.