The Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation.

Signing of the Memorandum

On Wednesday, December 20, the Metropol Hotel hosted the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. The document was signed by the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar; President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, Alexander Boroda; President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Mikhail Mirilashvili; and Chairman of the Board of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Aaron Frenkel.

The ceremony was also attended by prominent business representatives, well-known public and political figures, including the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Russia, Gary Koren.

In his speech, Mikhail Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, emphasized: "I believe that the Jewish heritage of our nation is unique, and the Russian-speaking diaspora on the Euro-Asian continent is a rich source of these values. Our ancestors were always distinguished by their pursuit of knowledge, great discoveries, and understanding of their origins. There is no doubt that the current generation is also immensely talented. Today, behind almost every new technology and startup, there is a Jewish mind. However, without the cultural and spiritual components—the foundations of our nation—there is a risk of losing these reference points and our Jewish identity. One of the key missions of the Congress is to preserve and develop the foundation without which the Jewish people would not have remained so unique to this day, and without which the Russian-speaking diaspora would not continue to be a source of rich Jewish cultural heritage. I am confident that the FEOR, with its extensive experience, will help us achieve the best results in advancing and promoting our goals."

Speaking at the opening of the evening, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, Berel Lazar, congratulated the guests on Hanukkah and said: "The light of Hanukkah must remain with us throughout the entire year! To achieve this, we must learn the key lesson of the holiday—a lesson that will guide us daily. I am confident that those gathered in this hall demonstrate through their actions that they have embraced this lesson! In our country, many Jewish people live in cities where communities have only recently been established, and these communities are small. Working with these communities and individuals is, of course, far more challenging than in places with large, well-organized Jewish populations. Yet, this is our main challenge, and it is a matter of honor for us to resolve these issues. Fortunately, both the FEOR and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress base their activities on this correct foundation. I am very pleased that today we have the opportunity to join forces. Together, we can achieve far more than we can individually. May the light of Hanukkah, through your deeds, reach every Jewish home!"

Alexander Boroda, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, noted: "Cooperation between our two organizations will strengthen the activities of Jewish communities both in Russia and in other countries within the scope of the EAJC. Jewish life in Russia is developing actively, and we consider it of utmost importance to build relationships with international Jewish organizations to share our extensive experience in community building, as well as to adopt global best practices. We are grateful to the EAJC for this partnership and sincerely hope that our cooperation will prove fruitful for the development of the Jewish community in Russia and worldwide."

The Memorandum was initiated following the decision of the FEOR and the EAJC to combine their efforts for the benefit of Jewish national and religious life in Russia and the countries represented by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

The purpose of the Memorandum is to represent and protect the shared interests of Jewish organizations and communities. It aims to enhance the levels of culture, education, enlightenment, and Jewish identity, and to promote Jewish culture as a vital component of both Russian and global culture, while fostering spiritual and moral education.

The parties plan to develop and implement joint projects aimed at promoting spiritual values and traditional Jewish education, combating antisemitism and xenophobia, strengthening the image of the Jewish community, fostering Russian-Israeli relations, and promoting Jewish culture globally.