Paradesi Jewish community shrunk to only two members

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The death of Sarah Cohen, India’s oldest Jew, leaves the Paradesi Jewish community in Kochi with just two members left. Ms. Cohen, a resident of the Jewish street in Mattancherry, Kochi passed away at the age of 96.

Ms. Cohen owned the embroidery store that offered traditional challah covers, decorative pieces of cloth for the synagogue and Jewish brides. She was a local source of information on Jewish traditions and kept the community’s history alive.

 The Paradesi Jewish community is dating back more than 500 years. The Paradesi Jews (Paradesi means foreigners in Tamil) have come to India from Portugal, Spain, Syria, and Iraq.

 The Paradesi Synagogue in Mattancherry was constructed by Sephardic Jews in 1568 and is the oldest synagogue in India. Unlike the seven synagogues in the area, the Paradesi Synagogue is still active.

In 1951 there were over 2,500 Paradesi and Malabari Jews in Kerala. However, the community shrunk in size over the years due to migration to Israel, the US, and the UK.

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EAJC congratulates Bella Waldberg

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Euro-Asian Jewish Congress wishes happy birthday to Bella Waldberg, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Development Fund for Social and Cultural Projects in Russia.

Dear Bella! Please accept our warmest and most sincere congratulations! We greatly appreciate your dedicated work within the framework of the EAJC representative office in Russia.

We wish you health, happiness, fascinating projects, and bright professional successes for the benefit of the Jewish people!

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Jewish Culture Festival Supported by EAJC was held in St.Petersburg on August 25

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Major Jewish Culture Festival titled “Oy Vey” was held in St. Petersburg on August 25. For one day the guests of the new city landmark SEVKABEL PORT were transported to the market and streets of Tel Aviv: they tasted authentic Israeli food, listened to fiery music, met with the most interesting media persons of the city, attended various workshops and got acquainted with Jewish traditions and modern culture of Israel.

Organizers of the festival were HILLEL Jewish Center in St. Petersburg, with generous support by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, and the LIGHT MUSIC concert agency, which was also responsible for the festival’s music program.

The music program featured MALABI TROPICAL band, Israelis who have been wandering on a non-stop music tour since 2014. They fused Latin rhythms and Jewish melodies into a unique tropical rock. From street parties to the major festivals of Eurasia no one could resist their live performance! The MALABI TROPICAL was joined by St. Petersburg GOODNIGHT group of street musicians that for 20 years have been second to none in presenting Jewish folklore and Odessa songs. During their performances, even the most modest and intellectual spectators turned into musicians and dancers, and with each song the revelry flared up more and more.

The idea of the festival is to imbue every guest with the atmosphere of Tel Aviv, the most vibrant city of Israel. Here they sold sweets, there jewelry was on sale, around the corner a café was wide open, and right opposite it musicians played. And how could one do without street artists, travelers, rabbis, artisans and other colorful characters? Every one of them shared his or her story, while guests could get acquainted with the new culture in the fascinating festival format.

The festival program included:

  • Food court where the best Jewish restaurants of the city were present
  • Presentations by rabbis and official representatives of Israel in Russia, as well as by street artists, travelers, guides, and cooks
  • Children’s playroom
  • STEREOLETO and PARTS OF THE WORLD festivals’ organizers were responsible for the music program.
  • Market of Jewish designers from Israel and Russia
  • Workshops: henna drawings on the palms, a traditional ceremony of Yemeni Jews; different folk dances; cooking of Israeli street food
  • Contemporary Israeli artists and photographers exhibition

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Hillel opened free Hebrew courses in Moscow with the EAJC support

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On August 25 HILLEL Jewish youth organization launched a Hebrew course in Moscow. The course includes six classes held every Sunday from 16.00 to 17.30 in the cultural and educational space of Sokolniki Park called BUKVODOM (literally, Book Home).

These lessons make it possible to learn Hebrew for everyone who is eager to do so: the tuition is provided free of charge by Hebrew teacher Ilya Yuzefovich. The course is given in the park and gathers more than a thousand participants.

Hebrew is an amazing language. The Hebrew alphabet is one of the oldest known to mankind. There are neither vowels nor capital letters in it. This language is based on strict logic and is incredibly beautiful. Hebrew knowledge is useful not only for visiting Israel, but also for studying the history of major world religions.

This free Hebrew course was made possible by the support of the GENESIS Foundation and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

Bella Waldberg, EAJC-Russia CEO:

“The best way to increase the accessibility and attractiveness of language learning is to make the learning informal, i.e. to leave classrooms for leisure areas, to abandon the conventional surroundings and teaching methods.

Hebrew is considered to be one of the oldest and at the same time one of the youngest languages of our planet. Courses such as this one provide a great opportunity to explore the origins of Jewish culture and civilization in the rhythm of a modern city. Moreover, the strengthening of business and friendly ties between Russia and Israel, as well as the growing interest in learning “exotic” languages can expand the potential audience of the course.

We are grateful to our partner, the Hillel-Russia Center, for this initiative and are very happy to support the project, thanks to which Hebrew learning has become more accessible in Moscow. “[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Hundreds of Jewish families receive social support through EAJC efforts

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EAJC leaders view assistance to socially vulnerable Jewish families and elderly people in the Euro-Asian region as one of the most important goals of the congress activity.

“In the Jewish tradition, support for the poor is indicated by the word tzedaka, that is, literally justice, and is one of the most important injunctions of Judaism. We are doing everything possible so that our children and the elderly can lead a decent, meaningful life and receive comprehensive assistance and care, ” says the EAJC President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili.

With the support of the EAJC and personally of the EAJC President Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili, the Regional Jewish Congress in St. Petersburg, under the leadership of executive vice president Yevgenia Lvova, is implementing significant social projects.

The Jewish Family Service program supports Jewish families with low incomes, single-parent families, guardianship families with orphans or children whose parents are deprived of parental rights, families with children or parents with disabilities, etc.

The Jewish Family Service concept is based on American and Israeli methods of social support and provides an integrated approach to working with families.

Each family receives consultations from various specialists, including a social worker. Based on professional recommendations, an individual support plan is drawn up, which allows achieving significant success in overcoming social insecurity.

The program has already helped over 5,000 children, improving their quality of life as well as providing an amazing opportunity to be part of the Jewish people.

For 20 years, the Jewish Sunday club “Neshama” has been helping families to overcome crisis situations and everyday difficulties. One of the priority areas of the club is to provide elderly Jews with free food, both in various social centers and with home delivery.

As part of the Alzheimer’s Disease Relief Program at the Center for Remembrance and Health in St. Petersburg, elderly people attend one-to-one and group classes, undergo medical examinations and receive the necessary medications.

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Jewish leaders of Central Asia met in Kazakhstan

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Under the auspices of the EAJC and the Association of Jewish national organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an international conference of leaders of Jewish communities and organizations in Central Asia was held.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress regional office in Central Asia is making every effort to revive and develop Jewish culture in the region, striving to provide all Central Asian Jews with the opportunity to live a meaningful life in accordance with Jewish tradition.

“We are grateful to you, the Jewish leaders of Central Asia, for your devotion and willingness to further develop the Jewish communities and organizations in the region,” EAJC Director-General Haim Ben Yaakov welcomed the audience. “We greatly appreciate every initiative that promotes the harmonization of interethnic relations in the region, as well as the support that Jewish organizations provide to low-income Jewish families. Special gratitude goes to the conference organizers Alexander Baron, Director of the EAJC Central Asian Office, and Inessa Chugainova, Director of the Rimon Jewish Community Center. ”

Within the framework of the international meeting, round tables were held at which the Jewish leaders of Central Asia, together with the EAJC representatives, discussed sociological trends and the role of online media in the field of community building, the integration processes of Jewish communities in the region, as well as the goals and objectives of the EAJC regional office in Central Asia.

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Young Jewish families of the Euro-Asian region gathered in Kazakhstan

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Under the auspices of the EAJC and the Association of Jewish National Organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Almaty, the Jewish international camp for young families was held on the coast of the Kapchagay reservoir.

Young families from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Russian Federation, and other countries of the Euro-Asian region met in the charming lake resort to engage in seminars, exciting games, and even Maccabiah competitions.

The main theme of the camp this year was the 110th anniversary of the vibrant and dynamic Tel Aviv: from the Torah heroes and the history of ancient Jaffa to the brave Zionists who built the city in the sands and the outstanding development of the Israeli “white city” in recent years.

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Two Maccabi Russia teams won gold medals at the 15th European Maccabi Games

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Both Russian Maccabi basketball teams in two age groups won a gold medal at the 15th European Maccabi Games, which took place in Budapest from June 29 to August 7.

“We are proud of the achievements of Jewish athletes from the Euro-Asian region, and congratulate our guys on a great victory in team competitions. I have been the President of Maccabi Russia for 25 years! The Russian team has always been one of the strongest not only in Europe but also in the world Maccabiah,” said the President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili.

The 15th European Maccabi Games was the biggest multisport event in Hungary, as well as the biggest European Maccabi Games event with nearly 3,000 participants coming from 42 countries.

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To the 50th Anniversary of 18 Georgian Jews’ Letter

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The swift victory of Israel in the Six-Day War stirred up the whole world. It was then that Soviet Jews, who seemed to have lost their last hope, started an open struggle for the right to repatriation to Israel.

My compatriots, the Georgian Jews, were in the vanguard of this awakening. They organized protest actions, applied for exit visas, appealed to Soviet authorities, sent hundreds of letters and telegrams, but all their efforts were in vain.

In August 1969, exactly 50 years ago, a native of Kutaisi, Shabtai Elashvili gathered the most trusted friends and announced his decision to appeal to the UN Human Rights Committee, the Israeli Prime Minister, and the Israeli ambassador to the UN.

18 Georgian Jews signed a letter that could become their death sentence. All signed their names and addresses, prompting many observers to call their act one of great courage.

In particular, the letter said:

…  The time of fear has passed – the hour of action has come. … We demand the UN Human Rights Commission to take immediate steps to obtain in the shortest possible time permission from the USSR government for us to leave. How is it possible at the end of the 20th century to forbid people to live where they want?

Shabtai Elashvili went to Moscow and secretly handed the letter over the Dutch ambassador, who at that time represented Israel’s interests in the USSR.  Thus, the first public demand by Soviet Jews for emigration to Israel crossed the Iron Curtain, reached the addressees and produced the effect of an exploding bomb.

The UN Human Rights Committee distributed the letter of 18 Georgian Jews as an official document, as a result of which the letter was translated into many languages ​​and published in major newspapers in the world. People read this daring text in Jewish homes and during protests in support of the right of Soviet Jews to repatriate.

Impressed by this impudent message, the Knesset and the Government of Israel, led by Golda Meir, decided to publicly support the right of Soviet Jews to aliyah. Until that moment, official Israeli authorities had refrained from open actions in the hope of restoring relations with the Soviet Union.

In 1971, eighteen Jewish families achieved their goal and set foot on the Holy Land. After all the ordeals he had faced, Shabtai Elashvili left this world the same year, just months apart.

The 18 Georgian Jews’ Letter caused an intensive campaign on the part of the government of Israel and the Jewish world to allow the emigration of Soviet Jews to Israel.

Do not forget and tell others about the courageous man Shabtay Elashvili and his true friends who shoulder to shoulder followed their leader towards the great goal of reuniting with their people.

Dr. Mikhail Mirilashvili,  EAJC President

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EAJC welcomes Taglit annual event

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On July 31, about 3,500 young people from 14 countries, as well as sponsors and friends of the Taglit educational program, gathered in the Caesarea amphitheater to take stock of the past year.

This is only a small part of the 32 thousand participants of the program, who during the recent year came to Israel from 68 countries to get acquainted with their Jewish roots and get to know Israel and Israelis better.

“We are pleased that, thanks to the efforts of the EAJC, young people from the Euro-Asian region, from the Balkans to Japan, have the unique opportunity to visit Israel completely free of charge, learn a lot about the history and culture of their people, and make friends with Israeli peers,” said the EAJC General Director Haim Ben Yaakov.

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