A solemn ground-breaking ceremony for a monument dedicated to the heroes of the Siege of Leningrad has taken place in Jerusalem

On November 12, 2019, a solemn groundbreaking ceremony was held in Jerusalem for the "Candle of Memory" monument, dedicated to the heroism of the defenders and residents of Leningrad during the siege. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion, Vice-Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Knyaginin, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Israel Anatoly Viktorov, President of the EAJC Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili, businessman and philanthropist Viktor Vekselberg, Chairman of Keren Hayesod Sam Grundwerg, President of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) Yuri Kanner, project initiator Leonid Litinetsky, Chairman of the Association of World War II Veterans in Israel Abraham Grinzaid, and Chief Rabbi of the Russian Federation Berl Lazar.

Funding for the monument was provided by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) and Viktor Vekselberg. The Jewish National Fund – Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, Keren Hayesod, and the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) also supported the project.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, which consistently opposes the distortion of history and advocates for preserving the memory of Jewish heroes, supported the initiative of former Knesset Member Leonid Litinetsky, the World War II Veterans Council, and the Association of Leningrad Siege Survivors in Israel to erect a monument in Jerusalem dedicated to the heroes and victims of the Siege of Leningrad.

EAJC President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili stated: "I lived in St. Petersburg for many years and know firsthand that the Nazi siege left a deep scar on the life of every Leningrad resident. Among the defenders and residents of the besieged city were approximately 150,000 Jews, tens of thousands of whom perished. Many Jews volunteered to take up arms and joined the volunteer militia divisions. The 'Candle of Memory' monument in Jerusalem not only appeals to our collective memory, but also serves as a reminder that peace remains fragile. It is within our power to defend the truth and preserve the memory of that terrible war so that the tragedy of our peoples is never repeated."

Viktor Vekselberg stated: "Time erases much, especially the memory of tragedies—this is a protective psychological mechanism. Not to forget and to remind of past events such as the Siege of Leningrad is our common task in order to prevent their recurrence. As Daniil Granin, who fought on the Leningrad Front, wrote in his 'Book of the Blockade': 'To gather the fragments of the nation's memory' to pay tribute to the feat, a lesson in courage taught to humanity by the residents and defenders of the hero city. Today, we immortalize this feat in Jerusalem. The 'Candle of Memory' monument will stand as a symbol of friendship between Russia and Israel for generations to come."

As the President of the Russian Jewish Congress Yuri Kanner pointed out, "the monument will be unveiled on the eve of January 27—the day that marks both the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Siege of Leningrad and the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp by the Red Army, an event in honor of which the UN established International Holocaust Remembrance Day." According to the head of the RJC, "it is crucial that following its unveiling, this monument becomes a focal point of public attraction and care. Just as Netanyahu's Red Army Victory Memorial, built with the support of the Russian Jewish Congress in 2012, has become a cherished location for Israelis, living its own life: newlyweds visit, tour groups are brought here, and numerous official ceremonies take place. It is essential that the memory of the war and the Holocaust lives on not only in marble or bronze, but in the hearts of people."

The project was first presented to the leaders of Russia and Israel in January 2017 at an event dedicated to International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Moscow. The installation of the monument is carried out with the participation of the municipal authorities of St. Petersburg and Jerusalem. The unveiling of the steel stele, adorned with symbols of Israel and St. Petersburg, will take place in January 2020 to mark the Day of the Liberation of Leningrad and International Holocaust Remembrance Day, both observed on January 27.

According to various sources, during the 900-day siege, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Leningrad residents perished, including tens of thousands of Jews. A significant portion of the Jewish population was mobilized into the army or voluntarily joined the volunteer militia divisions.

The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by: Chairman of the EAJC Board Aaron G. Frenkel, EAJC Director General Haim Ben-Yakov, and Director of the JNF-KKL Resource Development Division Roni Vinnikov.