The leadership of the EAJC attended the Congress of Leaders of World Religions in Jerusalem

Leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) attended the conference "Religious Leaders United in Peace," organized following the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions held in Kazakhstan. The forum, hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan and the country's Embassy in Israel, took place on June 6 at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem.

On the sidelines of the conference, Congress President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili held a bilateral meeting with Maulen Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. Satybaldy Burshakov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Israel, also participated in the discussions. The parties deliberated on further cooperation between the EAJC and the Kazakh government, as well as joint initiatives aimed at promoting intercultural and interfaith dialogue. The EAJC President highlighted the "unique role" of interfaith leaders in fostering multifaceted cooperation.

"We are honored and grateful to participate in these processes. Historic grievances that once characterized interreligious relations must yield to a shared commitment to development, constructive engagement, and scientific cooperation. Religious leaders can play a pivotal role in this endeavor. With such determination and a mutual readiness for dialogue, there is a tangible hope for a better world," Dr. Mirilashvili stated.

Additionally, during the Forum, EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yakov and Professor Ze'ev Khanin, Academic Director of the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAJS), met with prominent Israeli religious authorities, as well as high-ranking state and public figures.

Dr. Haim Ben Yakov and Professor Ze'ev Khanin also addressed the roundtable session titled "The Role of Religion in Building Peaceful Societies." According to Haim Ben Yakov, "the profound dialogue attained between Jewish and Christian representatives through dedicated efforts serves as a source of optimism. The principles articulated by the Pope in the 1965 'Nostra Aetate' Declaration continue to evolve, and this regular engagement yields positive results. Furthermore, the regular Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, initiated by Kazakhstan and hosting its first external session in Israel, has begun to play a significant global role," Dr. Ben Yakov remarked.

The EAJC Director General also noted that representatives of all religious communities are currently addressing pressing social issues, including conflict prevention, the status of women in society and religious institutions, and other matters requiring both joint and independent action.

"The interfaith dialogue commenced primarily because leaders recognized the consequences of a lack of communication. This dialogue allows us to better comprehend the unique qualities of our respective cultures, as well as the universal values that unite us as human beings. Herein lies the highest level of self-awareness," he said.

"War, persecution, and shattered lives compel us to seek mutual understanding and strive for the resolution of conflicts, including those of an ethnic or religious nature. Historic grievances must give way to a shared commitment to development, constructive engagement, and scientific cooperation. Religious leaders can play a critical role in these efforts. If there is goodwill and a readiness to engage, we can hope to change the world for the better," Dr. Ben Yakov concluded.

For his part, Professor Ze'ev Khanin dedicated his address to the role of traditional religions in shaping national identity and fostering intercultural dialogue within the framework of civil society and the political system.

"The responsibility of the academics and religious practitioners gathered here is to sustain the process of mutual engagement and strengthen civil society," the Academic Director of the IEAJS noted.

He further remarked that "Kazakhstan is a state facilitating a highly successful interfaith dialogue that has transcended national borders to achieve global significance in recent years. Indeed, it is the leadership and civil society of Kazakhstan that have exerted the utmost effort to make this a reality," Professor Khanin concluded.