EAJC welcomed the decision of the authorities of Kosovo for including Hezbollah on the terrorist list

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The terrorist acts, organized and carried out by the Hezbollah militants with the financial and moral support of Iran, have brought dozens of victims on different continents for decades. However, some leading international organizations, including the United Nations, still refuse to recognize Hezbollah as an organization pursuing terrorist goals.

Against this background, the decision of the authorities of Kosovo to join the voice of reason and recognize Hezbollah as a terrorist organization evokes special respect.

Among the terrorist acts planned and executed by Hezbollah: an explosion on an Israeli tourist bus in Burgas (Bulgaria), explosions near the Israeli embassy and in the Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires (Argentina) and other heinous crimes that claimed dozens of innocent lives.

“The decision of the authorities of Kosovo is symbolic in the days when we bow our heads in memory of the victims at the Jewish Center in Buenos Aires in 1994, in which 85 people were killed and hundreds were injured. We call on governments and international organizations around the world to unite in an uncompromising fight against radicalism and extremism”, – said EAJC President Mikhail Mirilashvili.

“The United Nations still refuses to declare Hezbollah as a terrorist entity, separating the military and political wings, although the Hezbollah leadership itself considers its inseparable nature. The political wing of Hezbollah continues to operate in the European Union, raising funds, recruiting new activists and spreading anti-Semitic and extremist ideologies”, – said EAJC Director General Haim Ben Yakov.

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EAJC urged state leaders to take active steps in the fight against growing anti-semitism

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The leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress expressed deep concern about the statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the increase in the number of incidents involving anti-Semitism in 2018 by 13% compared with a year earlier.

In her speech at the UN General Assembly, the President of the General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, reported on the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and other regions, and called on the international community to monitor hate publications on the Internet.

According to a study by the Technical University in Berlin, during the period from 2007 to 2018, the number of anti-Semitic comments on the Internet has almost tripled. This disturbing phenomenon is primarily reflected in social networks, which contributes to the rapid spread of hatred towards the Jewish people and the Jewish state.

“We are deeply concerned about the growing anti-Semitism, including demonization and delegitimization of Israel. We cannot put up with this shameful and extremely dangerous phenomenon, so we call on state leaders to struggle tirelessly against manifestations of hatred and acts of violence against Jews”,- said EAJC President Mikhail Mirilashvili.

“The EAJC will continue active opposition to the inhuman manifestations of modern anti-Semitism, which is not part of state policy, as it was in Nazi Germany. This means that this noble fight falls upon the shoulders of the authorities. Therefore, we will openly protest against the connivance with the anti-Semites and encourage governments to take action against anti-Semitism, ” said EAJC Director General Haim Ben Yaakov.

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Children with special needs and their families had fun in the urban Jewish camp “Meodomik”

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Children of different ages, including children with special needs, had a good time in the summer camp “Meodomik”, organized by the Moscow Jewish Community House, a member of the Jewish community centers association of the CIS countries, with the support of the EAJC.

This is one of the brightest and favorite projects of the Moscow Jewish Community and the Eurasian Jewish Congress, and it is based on the idea of a joint playground, where there is a place for every child.

The camp program allows children with special needs to go on excursions, get acquainted with the historical past of the Jewish people, develop their horizons and get new impressions and experience on a par with other children.

Special children of the “Integration” project get experience in a group, learn to be in a peer team, pay attention to other people, relate their needs to the needs of others, develop communication skills.

Families with special children can change their surroundings, find new forms of interaction with the world, and communicate with new people.

Interesting creative workshops on ceramics, origami, chess, dough-painting, carving, cooking sweets, painting napkins for Shabbath challah, Jewish music and dance lessons as well as fun games and fascinating excursions were held for children.

48 children from 6 to 14 years, among them 15 kids with special needs took part in “Meodomik” Jewish camp. The camp organizers managed to create the warm atmosphere of a cozy Jewish home. Well done!

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Prof. Ze’ev Khanin: “the “Russian” Israeli community is rather a product of the local experience then of the Soviet and post-Soviet legacy

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Photo: Erez Biton Photography

At the 35th Annual Conference of the Association for Israel Studies, one of the leading Israeli experts on the Israeli Russian-speaking community prof. Zeev Khanin concisely summarized the key findings of multiple studies regarding the Russian-speaking Israeli citizens.

Reviewing comprehensive studies over the last nine years, Prof. Ze’ev Khanin emphasized that the key expectations of the Russian-speaking Israelis from national leaders are similar to those of the rest of the Israeli citizens.

National security issues concern 50% to almost 90% of the community over recent years. Among the leading socio-economic issues that particularly concern the Russian-speaking citizens are solving the housing problem of young couples, lowering retail prices, deregulation of the economy, and improvement of formal education.

At the same time, almost a third of Russian-speaking olim (more than 60% among the elders) recognize many problems specific for the members of the community. Almost 45% and more among the middle-aged believe such problems are limited while only about a quarter, mainly young people, believed that “Russian-speaking Israelis have the same problems as others.”

“It seems that the very notion of “Russian interests” in communal discourse in recent years has been transformed from a simple interaction into a more organic combination of a nationwide and a specific community agenda”,- said Prof. Ze’ev Khanin during the panel chaired by Dr. Haim Ben-Ya’akov, Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

Since 1989, around 1.1 million Russian-speaking olim arrived in Israel while till now around half of them feel some degree of personal belonging to the Israeli “Russian” community at any age.

All in all, as quoted studies show, in terms of understanding basic state and society issues, as well as relations of Israel with Russia and other FSU countries, the “Russian” Israeli community is rather a product of the local experience than of the Soviet and post-Soviet legacy.

The panel “The Russian-Jewish Diaspora at the Shadow of Russian-Israeli Relations” at the 35th Annual Conference of the Association for Israel Studies is organized by the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies and sponsored by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. The panel participants:

Prof. Vladimir (Ze’ev) Khanin is the Academic Chairman of the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAJS), founded by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and lectures Israel, Jewish and Political studies at Ariel University and Bar-Ilan University.

Vladimir Chernin, Director of Publishing Projects at the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAJS) and Yiddish language and culture lecturer at the Ariel University: Between Diaspora Identity and Identification with the Jewish State: Russian Jewish Literature in Israel.

Jennifer Shkabatur, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya: The Mirror of Social Media: Identity and Politics Among the Russian Diaspora.

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EAJC Director General Haim Ben-Yaakov addressed the first International Meeting of Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA) in Bucharest

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Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Haim Ben-Yaakov stressed in his statement, addressing the participants of SECCA in Bucharest:“Gradually, it is realized that anti-Semitism is not only a problem of Jews and Israel but a universal problem of humanity as well. Many states have appointed special representatives to deal with this outrageous issue, and now in Bucharest, which is holding the rotating presidency of the European Council, the first joint meeting of the directors of European communities, ombudsmen and special representatives to combat anti-Semitism, racism, and xenophobia is held. We hope sincerely hope that governments will take strict steps in the fight against this shameful phenomenon.”

The first International Meeting of Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism brought together more than 30 special representatives and coordinators to combat anti-Semitism and 50 executive directors of Jewish community organizations from 44 countries.

The forum was also attended by the coordinator of the European Commission to Combat Anti-Semitism Katharina von Schurnbein; US Special Representative for Monitoring and Combating Anti-Semitism Alan Carr; authorized by the Government of Germany to combat anti-Semitism Felix Klein; Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the World Jewish Congress Robert Singer; Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Mark Weizman; the UN Special Rapporteur on National Minorities Fernand de Varennes.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress calls on state leaders to take a firm stand and undertake necessary steps to combat this shameful phenomenon.

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From 15th to 25th July, in Moldova, with the support of the EAJC, the «Nasharim» Jewish camp will be held

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From 15th to 25th July, in Moldova, with the support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, the «Nasharim» Jewish camp will be held.

The «Nasharim» is a project that has existed since 1992. Every year, Jewish youth from all over Moldova study Jewish culture, history and traditions during 10 days.

This year’s theme is “Following the Paths of Jewish History”. Participants will come to the small camp Jewish community to understand where the Jew came from in Moldova and how to develop the Jewish community.

Every day, the counselors of the Jewish community will conduct classes and events to familiarize themselves with the different “paths” of Jewish history: the path from Abraham to Yosef, the path from Egypt to Eretz Israel, the path from the Temple to the Jewish Communities and the most unfinished path, the path of the Jews in Moldova today. Characters from different eras from Jewish history will walk around the camp to help all participants feel the atmosphere of different times and hold eveningentertainment events for the participants. In addition, all participants will have various master classes and workshops.

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The Moldovan government approved the transfer of the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

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The Moldovan government headed by Pavel Filip approved the transfer of the country’s embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. It is about fulfilling the promise of Moldovan President Igor Dodon, first voiced at a meeting with the leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) headed by Mikhail Mirilashvili. This meeting held in Jerusalem in December last year, and there Dodon promised “with all seriousness” to consider the issue of moving the country’s embassy. Prime Minister Philip expressed confidence that the decision will be implemented regardless of the results of early elections, which will soon be held in Moldova.

EAJC President Mikhail Mirilashvili expressed his gratitude to the country’s leadership: “This is a historic decision that will bring the relations of the two countries to a new level. Moldova forever will be remembered by Israelis and Jews around the world as one of the first country which transfer the embassy to Jerusalem. This step is logical  continuation of the policy of the Moldovan authorities to strengthen ties with the Jewish community and combat anti-Semitism. We congratulate the peoples of the two countries on this significant event and are pleased to contribute to the development x relations between Moldova and Israel. ”

EAJC Director General Haim Ben Yaakov said: “The status of Jerusalem is one of the key issues of the Middle East. The transfer of embassies to Jerusalem is a confirmation of the understanding that Jerusalem has always been the center of the spiritual life of our people, and it is impossible to imagine a peaceful settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict without Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel.”

The United States recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017 and in May 2018 moved the embassy from Tel Aviv there. Later, Guatemala also moved its embassy to Jerusalem. On September 13, 2018, the Czech authorities announced the transfer of the embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In December 2018, Australia recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Russia recognizes Western Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

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The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress congratulates the elected President of Kazakhstan

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The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress congratulates the elected President of Kazakhstan, Mr. Tokayev Kasym-Zhomart Kemelevich, with a convincing victory won at the presidential elections!

On April 29th, 2019, the delegation of the EAJC leaders, headed by M.M. Mirilashvili was honored to meet with Mr. Tokayev during his visit to Kazakhstan.

On 12th of June, Alexander Baron, Head of the Jewish Community of Kazakhstan, EAJC Representative in Central Asia, took part in the inauguration ceremony of Kashym-Zhomart Tokayev as President in the Nur-Sultan in the capital’s Palace of Independence.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the First President of Kazakhstan – Elbasy Nursultan Nazarbayev, deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, members of the Government, judges of the Supreme Court, members of the Constitutional Council, representatives of the Presidential Administration and many other high-ranking officials. In total, 2500 people took part in the ceremony.

In the person of Mr. Tokayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, we have found a reliable partner in the matter of preserving and developing Jewish life in Kazakhstan. We are convinced that his confident victory will ensure the continuity of the impressive development path of Kazakhstan, thanks to which the country is rightfully one of the most important states in the region. There is no doubt that the Jewish community of Kazakhstan will play an important role in the public life of the country.

We wish you success in a high and responsible post!

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Happy Shavuot from EAJC

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Dear Friends,

Torah is the basis of Jewish life, the foundation of our spirituality and culture, our art and ethics.

On the Shavuot holiday, we celebrate the day God gave theTorah to the entire Jewish nation assembled at Mount Sinai.

It is the most pivotal event in the history of the Jewish people, who after long and hard years of slavery, became a unified nation with a powerful mission given by God. Happy Shavuot!

Mikhail Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress

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Condolences for the untimely death of Nehama Rivlin

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On behalf of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, we express our sincere condolences to Reuven Rivlin, the President of Israel and his family on the untimely death of his spouse Mrs. Nehama Rivlin.

Her departure is an irreversible loss not only for Israel, but also for the entire Jewish people. Mrs. Rivlin was an amazing person who devoted many years of her life to serving the good of Israeli society. She made a special contribution to all areas of social activity, which she devoted herself to throughout life.

We deeply mourn with your family this loss that is common to all of us. Mrs. Rivlin will forever remain in our hearts and in the blessed memory.

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