General Yakov Kreizer Square has been officially inaugurated in Israel

A landmark event took place in Lod during the Hanukkah holiday: for the first time in Israeli history, a city square was named in honor of a Jewish Soviet general, Yakov Kreizer. The solemn ceremony in Lod was attended by the Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, President of the Russian Jewish Congress Yuri Kanner, RJC Board Member Yuri Dombrovsky, Chairman of the Maalot Association David Shekhter, Mayor of Lod Yair Revivo, and Deputy Mayor of Lod Elvira Kalikhman.

Located in a new residential district of Lod with a significant population of immigrants from the former USSR, the square was officially designated as "Victory Square in Memory of General Yakov Kreizer." The project was initiated by the Maalot Association. The proposal to name the square after General Kreizer was presented to the municipalities of Lod and Ashdod, with another square planned to open in Ashdod in the near future.

The Maalot Association, aimed at establishing the Heritage Center of Soviet Jewry, conducts extensive initiatives to broaden the Israeli public's understanding of the contribution of Soviet Jews to the creation and development of Israel. Among these initiatives is a campaign to preserve the memory of the war hero and "modern Maccabee" General Yakov Kreizer in Israel. The association purposely selected the Hanukkah season to host Kreizer Week in Israel, featuring numerous events dedicated to the General. This week of events was made possible with the support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and sponsors Yuri Dombrovsky, Yuri Zelvensky, Yakov Soskin, and Arkady Mayofis.

"We must remember that in that war, Jews were not only victims but also heroes: 1.5 million Jews served in the Allied forces, over half a million in the Red Army, tens of thousands fought in partisan detachments, and hundreds of thousands died in battle. A total of 305 generals and admirals of the Red Army were Jewish. Today, we actively share this legacy, thereby restoring justice and preserving historical truth," commented EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili.

Yakov Kreizer (1905–1969) was the first Red Army commander to be awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. For 12 days, his division held back Guderian's tanks on the Berezina River, a defense that saved Moscow and enabled tens of thousands of Jews to evacuate, escaping imminent death. Kreizer holds a distinct position as the only Jewish general of his rank in the Soviet Army. In 1953, he was among the few prominent Jews who refused to sign a letter petitioned to Stalin calling for the deportation of Soviet Jews to Siberia and the Far East. During the Hanukkah holiday, Israel hosts a memorial week dedicated to the general, who is widely referred to as the "Maccabee of our time."