EAJC congratulates WJC leadership on reelection for next four years

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress president Dr. Michael Mirilashvili congratulated the World Jewish Congress President Ronald S.Lauder, the WJC Governing Board Chairman David de Rothschild, the WJC Treasurer Chella Safra and other members of the Executive Committee on reelection for the next  four years.

«It is a great honour to be a part of the World Jewish Congress Executive with Ronald S.Lauder. The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress plays an active role in the global Jewish community and represents the Euroasian region in the Jewish communal structures around the world».

Representing 103 Jewish communities around the world the WJC unanimously supported The State of Israel during the recent intense barrage of rockets aimed at Israel by the terrorist Hamas regime in Gaza.

The WJC’s 16th Plenary Assembly considered necessary actions to take to prevent terrorist acts, combat antisemitism and intolerance, increase Jewish education, preserve Holocaust memory and other goals of the global Jewry.

EAJC leaders appealed to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

On behalf of the leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress its President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili appealed to the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine with a request to support the bill №5530 on designating HAMAS as a terrorist organization. The EAJC leaders including the President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine Boris Lozhkin unanimously support the bill which was submitted for consideration by Olga Vasilevskaya-Smaglyk.

“This initiative is one of the most crucial milestones in Israel-Ukraine relations and we hope that the bill will be approved. HAMAS is a terrorist organisation aiming to destroy the State of Israel, and it has been trying to undermine the State sovereignty for decades. The members of HAMAS commit terrorist acts agains the civilians, riot at the border, fire the rockets at Israel cities. For the last few weeks 12 Israelis including a 5-year-old were killed, dozens were wounded.

The bill submitted by the deputy Vasilevskaya-Smaglyk is crucial in view of the fact that international pressure is deterring the HAMAS leaders. Israel chances to resolve the conflict in the Middle East are higher if more countries take a stand against HAMAS terror.

The EAJC urge the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to support the bill №5530 and the Prosecutor General Iryna Venedictova to appeal to the court with a request to designate HAMAS as a terrorist organisation. This action will benefit the Israel-Ukraine relations and become the important milestone in the fight against international terrorism.”

EAJC President congratulated President and Prime Minister of Georgia on Independence Day

President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Dr. Michael Mirilashvili congratulated Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, and Giorgi Gakharia, the Prime Minister of Georgia, on Georgia’s Independence Day.

A letter of congratulations to the President of Montenegro reads the following:

“Distinguished Mrs. President,

On behalf of all the leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and myself please accept my heartfelt congratulations on the Independence Day of Georgia and best wishes for the thriving of my beloved Motherland and wellbeing of Georgian people.

I have always been impressed by a rich history of Georgia and the fact that for 26 centuries it has been a true and safe home for Georgian Jews. As a modern independent state, Georgia has gone a long and meaningful road. It consolidated its statehood, forged reliable bilateral relations, developed internally and established itself in the international community.

Today Georgian nation and society continues to develop freely and faces the future with confidence. There is no doubt that Georgia will continue the way of development, stability and the growth of the well-being of its people.

Mrs. President, may I again congratulate you on the Independence Day and wish you and the people of Georgia a happy celebration. Please accept my cordial regards and the assurances of my highest consideration.”

A wreath-laying ceremony took place at the “Candle of Remembrance” monument in Jerusalem

On May 9 at 8:30 am a wreath-laying ceremony took place at the “Candle of Remembrance” monument unveiled more than a year ago by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Russian President Vladimir Putin. The “Candle of Remembrance” was installed in the Saker Park in Jerusalem on January 23, 2020 in honor of the heroes who defended the city of Leningrad during the years-long blockade of World War II.

Today’s Victory Day event was hosted by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and was the first in a series of events held in Israel on this great day. The wreath-laying ceremony was attended by the president of the Congress, Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, the director general of the Congress, Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, Knesset members, ambassadors of the CIS countries, delegations of the diplomatic corps, veterans of the World War II and the survivors of the siege.

During his speech, EAJC president Dr. Mirilashvili said: “In Israel, the Victory Day is a state holiday. We are grateful to the soldiers of the anti-Hitler coalition and remember the heroism ofthe Soviet army that defeated Nazi Germany. Today is a holiday with tears in our eyes, as the song goes. There were terrible losses, but there was also a Great Victory. “

EAJC took part in the annual event in the forest of the Red Army

The annual event in the forest of the Red Army traditionally opens a series of festive events dedicated to Victory Day. The forest of the Red Army was founded in 1950, and already in 1951, then young war veterans erected a monument in the forest with their own hands. Until 1967, Victory Day celebrations were held in the forest at the highest level, but after the Six Day War and the termination of diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, official events in the Red Army forest ceased.

In 2018, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) revived the tradition of celebrating Victory Day in the Red Army forest, and this after making Victory Day a public Israeli holiday in 2017.

This year the event is being held in cooperation between the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, KKL-JNF and the Russian Embassy in Israel. Due to the restrictions associated with the coronavirus epidemic, a relatively small number of people were invited to the Victory Day celebrations in the forest. Thus, the event was attended by veterans of the Second World War, representatives of the EAJC, KKL-JNF, the embassies of the former USSR countries, clergy, “Nativ” Liaison Office’s staff and others.

Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Dr. Haim Ben Yakov said: “It is impossible to speak about the Second World War without considering the events of the Holocaust, which are the integral part of its history. The victory of the allied forces over fascism, a special contribution to which was made by the soldiers of the Red Army, became the salvation of the Jewish people from the threat of total annihilation. At a critical moment, when a generation of witnesses to those terrible events is leaving, it is our duty to preserve the collective memory of the Holocaust and heroism”.

Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) atty. Amir Shneider, addressing the veterans, noted that the heroic struggle of the allied armies, and first of all the Red Army, will never be forgotten.

“On this day, we pay tribute to you, who liberated the world from the nightmare, and to the millions of soldiers of all allied armies who won the fateful battle for the future of humanity, a difficult battle for human dignity and freedom, which demanded huge sacrifices,” – noted Mr. Shneider.

EAJC leaders appealed to the President of Ukraine and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada

The leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and its president Dr. Michael Mirilashvili appealed to the President of Ukraine Mr. Vladimir Zelensky and the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmitry Razumkov with a request to support the bill No. 5109 on preventing and countering anti-Semitism in Ukraine, which was submitted for consideration to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on February 19.

The leaders of the EAJC pointed out that on April 6, at the meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the members of the Committee on human rights voted unanimously to recommend the Parliament to include the bill on the agenda of the session of the Rada.

It is noteworthy that according to the monitoring reports on anti-Semitism, an increase in the number of manifestations of anti-Semitism was registered in Ukraine last year. On the last days of April a march celebrating a founding anniversary of the Galicia Devision was staged in the centre of Kiev. During the Second World War this devision was a part of Waffen-SS and was involved in its horrific crimes.

The EAJC expressed the concern about the march and condemned the ongoing glorification of Nazis collaborators. In the official appeal the EAJC leaders stated that ‘‘preserving the memory of Holocaust victims and resisting anti-Semitism are not the internal affairs of certain countries or Jewish communities. They are a collective responsibility of civil society.’’

Due to the situation the EAJC leaders also called for legal acceptance of the «anti-Semitism» definition formulated by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).

‘‘We are convinced,’’ Dr.Michael Mirilashvili said in the appeal, ‘‘that the combination of these actions will significantly reduce the degree of anti-Semitic sentiments in Ukraine and allow Jews, citizens of the country, to feel confident and safe.’’

EAJC congratulates Dr. Michael Mirilashvili on his birthday

The leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress congratulated EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili on his birthday.

“Dear Michael,

On behalf of EAJC team, all vice presidents and community leaders, we wish you a happy birthday.

We sincerely wish you and your loved ones a good health, prosperity and strength for all new achievements in your numerous good deeds.

Your contribution to the Jewish world and its development, the preservation of the Jewish tradition, the education of Jewish values ​​among new generations and the support of those in need it is truly invaluable.

Under your leadership, the face of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress has changed and its activities have begun to bring significant results. Thanks to you, in recent years the EAJC has begun to play one of the central roles among the large organizations of the Jewish world, setting the agenda and truly shaping the future of Jewish life in the Euro-Asian region.

Let us once again congratulate you and wish you success in all your projects and endeavors, as well as many more active and interesting years of work for the benefit of the entire Jewish nation.”

EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili met with the UAE Ambassador to Israel

Last week, the President of the EAJC and Watergen, Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, received a delegation from the UAE Ambassador to Israel, Mohamed Al Khaja.

During the meeting issues of business cooperation were discussed, in particular, Watergen’s technology for processing air into high-quality drinking water was presented to the Ambassador.

EAJC expresses condolences following the horrific tragedy on Mount Meron

The leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress express deep condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy that happened yesterday during the traditional celebration of Lag BaOmer at the grave of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai on Mount Meron in Israel.

The media reported that the large crowd caused a stampede, killing dozens and injuring hundreds. The exact figures have not yet been released.

Our thoughts and prayers today are with everyone who has lost loved ones. May G-d send them consolation. We also pray for the speedy recovery of the other victims.

What is Lag baOmer? (video)

What is ‘Lag’, what is ‘Omer’ and how are they related? Why the bonfires? And why can’t you get a haircut or get married before this date? I heard something about Rabbi Akiva, but what does he have to do with it…?

For those who are familiar to these questions and who are confused in the meanings of the mysterious Lag baOmer, we explain everything in our a special #EAJConline​ video.