The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) has received with profound grief and outrage the reports of a horrific terrorist attack that took place on December 14 during Hanukkah celebrations in Sydney, in the Bondi Beach area. Approximately 2,000 people took part in the “Hanukkah by the Sea” event, organized by Chabad emissaries.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, share the pain of the entire Jewish community of Australia, and pray for the swift recovery of those who were wounded. The EAJC declares its full solidarity with the Jewish community of Sydney and its readiness to provide any assistance that may be required.

The EAJC has repeatedly warned that tolerance of antisemitic rhetoric, the normalization of hatred, and inaction by authorities inevitably lead to violence and the loss of human life. Today we see the horrific outcome of such complacency — terror has struck a place where people had gathered to light Hanukkah candles and celebrate life.

The EAJC calls on the Australian authorities to conduct an immediate, firm, and transparent investigation, to identify all perpetrators and organizers of the attack, and to ensure they are held fully accountable. The protection of Jewish communities, religious events, and public spaces must be guaranteed without delay and without compromise.

The EAJC stresses that the fight against antisemitism is not a matter of rhetoric, but of human lives. Further delay is unacceptable.

EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili stated:

“Since October 7, 2023, the world has been swept by a new wave of aggressive antisemitism. Time and again, we warned that hatred left unanswered kills. Today, that hatred has taken Jewish lives in Australia. This is the price of inaction and self-deception. Jews must not pay with their lives for political convenience or fear of calling evil by its name. We expect decisive action from the authorities — action now, not after the next tragedy.”

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress warmly extends its greetings on the occasion of Hanukkah — the Festival of Light, faith, and inner strength.

This year, we welcome Hanukkah in an exceptionally dark and тревbling time. On the very first day of the holiday, the world was shaken by a horrific terrorist attack in Sydney, which claimed the lives of innocent people who had gathered with their families to light the Hanukkah candles. This tragedy has resonated with deep pain in the hearts of Jews around the world.

It is precisely in moments like these that the meaning of Hanukkah reveals itself with particular clarity. The story of this festival is the story of the heroic Maccabean revolt — a story of resistance to darkness, despotism, and attempts to destroy Jewish faith and erase Jewish identity. It is a story of how the few proved stronger than the many, and how light prevailed over darkness.

Hanukkah teaches us to believe in miracles even when fear and confusion surround us. Each candle we light is a reminder that the Jewish people have endured, will endure, and will continue to move forward, carrying the light of hope, dignity, and life.

May the glow of the Hanukkah lights bring comfort to the bereaved, strength to those who defend our people, and faith that justice and life will prevail. Light will surely overcome darkness.

Chag Hanukkah Sameach!

Euro-Asian Jewish Congress

A conference and presentation of the four-volume publication “Documents on Israeli–Soviet Relations, 1954–1967” took place at Tel Aviv University (TAU). The project is a joint academic initiative of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Cummings Center for Russian and East European Studies at TAU. The conference, as well as the preparation and publication of the collection, were carried out with the support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC).

The event featured addresses by Dr. Yaakov Livne, Head of the Department of Public Diplomacy and Deputy Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov, Director General of the EAJC; Professor Ofra Goldstein-Gidoni, Director of the Zvi Yavetz School of Historical Studies at TAU; and Professor Vera Kaplan, Head of the Cummings Center for Russian and East European Studies at TAU.

Among the speakers were the co-editors of the collection: Professor Yaacov Roi, patriarch of the Israeli academic school for the study of Soviet and East European history; Dr. Yehoshua Freundlich, former Director of the Israel State Archives; and Dr. Boris Morozov — author of several books on the history of Jewish emigration, research fellow at the Cummings Center for Russian and East European Studies at TAU, and member of the Academic Council of the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAJS).

Also among the speakers were Professor Dmitry Adamsky, faculty member at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at Reichman University; Professor Amir Weiner, Director of the Center for the Study of the USSR and Central Europe at Stanford University; and Dr. Dmitry Asinovsky, postdoctoral fellow at Tel Aviv University.

The four-volume collection “Documents on Israeli–Soviet Relations, 1954–1967”, published in the summer of 2025, was prepared by leading scholars of international history — Professor Yaacov Roi (Editor-in-Chief), Dr. Yehoshua Freundlich, and Dr. Boris Morozov. The series is based on more than 600 archival documents from Israeli and Russian archives, most of which are published for the first time. The new volumes continue the previous project covering the years 1941–1953, first published in 2000.

The series offers a comprehensive account of some of the most dramatic and turbulent periods in the history of relations between the USSR and the State of Israel: from the restoration of diplomatic ties after their first rupture in 1953 to their cooling during the Suez Crisis; from the pre–Six-Day War confrontation to the final severing of relations in June 1967; from the struggle of Soviet Jews for the right to emigrate to Israel to the rise of the mass international movement supporting their cause in Israel and the West. Special attention is devoted to the interactions between the Israeli Embassy in Moscow and Soviet Jewry, as well as to Israel’s role in the USSR’s Middle Eastern policy.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress will continue to support academic research in the field of Israeli history and the history of Soviet Jewry, considering the preservation of cultural and historical heritage one of its key missions.

On Friday, November 7, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the Republic of Kazakhstan has joined the Abraham Accords. With this decision, Kazakhstan becomes the fifth nation to participate in the framework of agreements with Israel, alongside the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) warmly welcomes Kazakhstan’s accession to the Abraham Accords and expresses hope that this historic step will usher in a new era of unprecedented growth and cooperation between Jerusalem and Astana.

Statement by Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, on Kazakhstan’s accession to the Abraham Accords:

“The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress welcomes the historic decision of the Republic of Kazakhstan to join the Abraham Accords—an initiative that has opened a new chapter in the history of dialogue, understanding, and peace in the Middle East.

This step reflects Kazakhstan’s deep commitment to the values of peace, tolerance, and interfaith harmony—principles that have been a cornerstone of the country’s national policy since independence.

Kazakhstan’s accession to the Abraham Accords is not only a diplomatic achievement but also an expression of moral responsibility and far-sighted leadership—hallmarks of the Kazakh government’s vision and policy.

For us, the representatives of Jewish communities across Eurasia, this event carries special significance. It strengthens bridges between peoples and faiths, opens new horizons for cooperation among Kazakhstan, Israel, and other countries in the region, and creates opportunities to deepen cultural and humanitarian ties.

We express our profound appreciation to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and to Kazakhstan’s diplomatic corps for their consistent efforts in promoting peace and intercultural dialogue.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress stands ready to support the development of public diplomacy, educational, and interfaith initiatives that embody and advance the spirit of the Abraham Accords throughout the region.”

Today, the 7th of Cheshvan on the Hebrew calendar, Israel marks one of the most symbolic dates — Aliyah Day. This special day was established by the Knesset in 2016 to recognize the value of immigration as the foundation of the State of Israel’s existence.

Aliyah Day is symbolically linked to the weekly Torah portion “Lech Lecha,” which recounts the very first “aliyah” — Patriarch Abraham’s journey to the Land of Israel at the Almighty’s command. Millennia later, the path to Israel remains a challenging choice requiring tremendous resolve. Aliyah Day reminds us of the dedication of all those who choose to build their lives in the historic homeland of the Jewish people.

Over the 76 years of Israel’s existence, millions of Jews from every corner of the world have made aliyah. Each wave of immigration — from the early pioneers to today’s immigrants — has made an invaluable contribution to building and developing the country. It is thanks to these immigrants that Israel has become what we know today.

EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov commented:

“The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) consistently champions the support of immigration processes and the integration of new Israeli citizens. Through its resolutions and statements, the organization has repeatedly emphasized that aliyah is not merely every Jew’s right, but a vital factor in strengthening the Jewish state. The EAJC actively works to create favorable conditions for the comfortable immigration of Jews from Eurasian countries, fostering the preservation of ties between the diaspora and Israel.

The Law of Return, enacted by the Knesset in 1950, remains one of the cornerstones of Israeli statehood. This law guarantees every Jew’s right to immigrate and obtain Israeli citizenship, embodying the very essence of the Jewish state as a home for the entire people, regardless of where they reside. It bears noting that at one of our conferences in 2022, former Chief Justice of Israel’s Supreme Court Professor Aharon Barak underscored the fundamental importance of the Law of Return to the Jewish state, emphasizing that given its symbolic significance, this law should be regarded alongside Israel’s Basic Laws, even though it was enacted as ordinary legislation.

This year, Aliyah Day occurs against the backdrop of a devastating two-year war whose outcome remains uncertain, lending particular significance to this occasion. Thousands of new immigrants continue arriving in Israel despite all challenges. However, we must track these trends and work to ensure that the decision to center one’s life in Israel becomes ever more accessible and appealing.”

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.”