Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), met with Sallai Meridor, Chairman of the Board of the National Library of Israel in Jerusalem, and presented a collection of books published by the Congress in recent years.

Sallai Meridor thanked the EAJC for donating these important publications to the library’s collection and emphasized the importance of the library being enriched with publications in various languages, including Russian.

Among the donated publications are important studies on Jewish identity and antisemitism in post-Soviet countries, collections of memoirs about the Siege of Leningrad, a collection of Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s feuilletons, a collection of poems by Haim Nahman Bialik, and other books.

The National Library, which relocated to its new building during wartime, continues to function as the primary center for preserving the written heritage of the Jewish people.

The EAJC Director General appeals to Jewish communities to donate books related to Jewish community life for subsequent placement in the National Library.

Donated publications include:

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress expresses deep concern regarding the decision of several countries to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state during Israel’s ongoing military campaign against the terrorist organization Hamas, which continues to hold 48 Israeli citizens hostage.

We regret this decision and believe that any unilateral action in such a long-standing and complex conflict only aggravates the situation rather than leads to its resolution. Moreover, this step sends a dangerous signal to global terrorism: one can kill, rape, and take hostages — and still expect political dividends at the negotiating table.

World leaders claim that they are supporting moderate forces among Palestinians, and that their decision is actually directed against Hamas. However, terrorists of this organization perceive this decision merely as an interim victory and encouragement of their criminal activities.

We must also remind that Hamas’s official ideology does not envision any peaceful resolution to the conflict and calls for the complete destruction of the State of Israel.

We urge European and world leaders to direct their diplomatic efforts toward initiating and supporting dialogue, rather than making hasty unilateral high-profile decisions that offer no real solution to the problem.

EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili noted:

“This decision will neither bring relief to any Palestinian, nor accelerate the release of a single hostage, nor bring us closer to a just and lasting settlement of the conflict. On the contrary, it will only strengthen the forces of darkness and push genuine peace further away. Today is a sad day for those who sincerely strive for peace and security for all peoples of the region.”

The President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, took part in a festive evening marking U.S. Independence Day, held in Jerusalem and organized by the Embassy of the United States in Israel.

During the event, Dr. Mirilashvili met with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and expressed deep gratitude for America’s consistent support of Israel during these difficult times of war against Islamist terror in the Middle East.

Dr. Mirilashvili stated:

“In the midst of Israel’s war with the Islamists, which began with the barbaric attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, the global rise of antisemitism demands urgent intervention and active solutions. President Donald Trump, along with other representatives of the United States, has been carrying out this vital mission with dignity. Steps such as the U.S. withdrawal from the UN Human Rights Council, discredited by Iran; the cessation of funding for UNRWA; and the establishment of an interagency task force on combating hate in the United States — these are only part of the support given to Israel and world Jewry by the United States. For this courage and determination, we are endlessly grateful to you personally, Mr. Ambassador, to the President of the United States, and to all our American friends.”

A scientific-practical symposium titled “Olim and Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union Between Israel and the Diaspora: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities” was held at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) at Bar-Ilan University.

The conference, featuring leading scholars and public figures, aimed to present an up-to-date picture of trends and issues facing repatriates, emigrants, and diaspora communities, while analyzing new challenges that have emerged in recent years.

The event was jointly organized by the Institute of Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (a project of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, EAJC), the Jerusalem Interdisciplinary College (JIC), and the BESA Program for the Study of Post-Soviet Conflicts. Discussions focused on identity, language, communication, and socio-economic integration of repatriates from the former Soviet Union in Israel, as well as Jewish communities across the post-Soviet space and their diasporas in Western countries.

Special attention was given to the connection between source communities and receiving societies, distinctions between “new” and “veteran” repatriates, and differences across first, 1.5, and second-generation migrants. The role of Russian-language media in shaping political identity, institutional trust, and social mobility was also a central theme.

The symposium featured the presentation of multiple field studies conducted in Israel and the diaspora, including a series of surveys of repatriates from different immigration waves and focus group materials led by Dr. Elina Bardach-Yalova (JIC), in collaboration with Prof. Zeev Khanin, Academic Director of the Institute and Head of the BESA Post-Soviet Conflicts Program.

Preliminary findings from comparative research on Jewish and other émigré communities from the former USSR in Israel and across Central and Eastern Europe were also presented. These studies were conducted as part of the Institute’s new initiative – the Center for the Study of New Post-Soviet Emigration – led by Prof. Yevgeny Smirnov, with Dr. Mikhail Men as academic curator, and under the academic and strategic supervision of Prof. Zeev Khanin and the Institute’s Executive Vice President and EAJC Director General, Dr. Haim Ben Yakov.

The event also included findings from oral history projects documenting the most recent wave of Jewish emigration from Ukraine and other former Soviet countries (led by Dr. Anna Kushkova and Dr. Maria Kaspina), alongside field observations from aliyah and integration project leaders and additional data analyses.

On September 28, Kyiv will host the tenth annual March of Remembrance for the victims of Babyn Yar, organized by the United Jewish Community of Ukraine (UJCU).

The march is held in commemoration of the tragic events of September 29–30, 1941, when 33,771 Jews were murdered by the Nazis in Babyn Yar. The mass executions continued until the end of 1943.

The march follows the same route along which Jews were led to their deaths in 1941, giving it a profound symbolic and historical significance.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) believes it is crucial to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and other mass atrocities committed by Nazi Germany during World War II. Safeguarding historical memory and passing it on to future generations is our shared moral obligation.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) joins the international commemoration of the 52nd anniversary of one of the darkest moments in both Olympic and Jewish history — the terrorist attack during the 1972 Munich Games, in which 11 members of the Israeli Olympic delegation were brutally murdered by Palestinian terrorists from the Black September organization.

In memory of the victims, Jewish organizations across the Euro-Asian region will hold memorial ceremonies in the coming days. These events will include candle-lighting, prayer readings, and public tributes in synagogues, community centers, and youth clubs.

The central memorial event in Israel will take place on September 5 at 19:00 in the city of Bat Yam, at the park named in honor of the 11 slain Israeli athletes (6 Raziel Street).

Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the EAJC, stated:

“More than half a century later, the Jewish people continue to carry the pain of Munich ‘72. But we remember not only the tragedy — we remember the lesson: hatred, fueled by ideologies of terror, is far from gone. Today, we see the Iranian regime continuing to arm and direct terrorists, triggering waves of antisemitism around the world. Israel is fighting a just and righteous war against Hamas — and together with Israel, we must also fight the war against lies, hate, and the rising tide of antisemitic aggression disguised as political rhetoric. Memory is not only a candle. It is a call to action.”

The EAJC remains committed to defending the dignity, security, and rights of Jewish communities wherever they are.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) deeply mourns the passing of Rabbi Menachem Haсohen, an outstanding spiritual leader, public figure, scholar, and prolific author, who died at the age of 93.

Born in Jerusalem in 1932, Rabbi Haсohen dedicated his life to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. From his early service in the IDF and participation in key moments in Israel’s founding history to decades of public and educational leadership, his contributions were wide-ranging and deeply impactful. He served as the rabbi of the Moshavim Movement, the spiritual head of the Histadrut (Israel’s General Federation of Labor), a Member of Knesset, and the Chief Rabbi of the Jewish community of Romania. He also founded the Sapir Center for Jewish Education and Culture in Jerusalem’s Old City and authored numerous works on Jewish tradition and history.

For the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Rabbi Haсohen was a longtime colleague and partner in various initiatives, including the Limmud educational festival. He placed special emphasis on the integration of Jews from the former Soviet Union into the global Jewish world, the strengthening of Jewish unity, and the development of Jewish education, which he saw as the cornerstone of Jewish identity.

EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili stated:

“The passing of Rabbi Menachem Haсohen is a profound loss for the entire Jewish people. We have lost not only a spiritual guide and public leader but also a dear colleague who collaborated with EAJC for many years on educational and communal projects. His life was a shining example of service, dedication to unity, and unwavering commitment to the future of the Jewish people. His legacy will continue to inspire generations.”

The EAJC extends its heartfelt condolences to Rabbi Haсohen’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who were privileged to know him.

יהי זכרו ברוך

On August 26, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the country’s National Intelligence Service (ASIO) has obtained evidence directly linking Iran to terrorist attacks against the Australian Jewish community. The attacks targeted the Adas Israel Synagogue in Melbourne and Lewis’ Continental Kitchen restaurant in Sydney in 2024. In response, Australia has decided to expel the Iranian ambassador and recall its own diplomatic mission head from Tehran.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) welcomes these crucial steps in exposing Iranian terrorism and expresses gratitude to Australian intelligence services for uncovering these crimes. However, it’s important to note that incidents like those in Sydney and Melbourne were preceded by an atmosphere of verbal incitement and open anti-Israeli sentiment.

EAJC President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili stated:

“We emphasize that official rhetoric must be extremely cautious, and any manifestations of hatred must be immediately prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Irresponsible rhetoric and a sense of impunity allow extremist ideas to gain strength, which in this case helped Iranian terrorist activities take root in Australian society. As a result, we are now dealing with dire consequences – the Australian Jewish community has become a target for terrorists operating under the Iranian regime’s direction within a sovereign foreign state.

In recent years, we have consistently warned about the very fine line between legitimate state criticism and anti-Zionism – a form of antisemitism that affects Jewish communities worldwide. This is not an issue that can be dismissed; it requires strategic solutions at the highest level. This case perfectly demonstrates that it’s not just a Jewish community problem but primarily a concern for the state where such incidents occur.

We also warn countries in our region: the Iranian regime remains the world’s primary sponsor of terrorism and the main threat to regional and global stability. In their fanatical goal to destroy the State of Israel, this regime will stop at nothing, and even residents of countries far from the Middle East can fall victim to their terror.

We deeply regret that members of the Australian Jewish community had to suffer from Iran’s actions. We sincerely hope that all organizers and perpetrators of these crimes will face justice, and that Australian authorities will pay special attention to addressing antisemitism.”