EAJC President Michael Mirilashvili sent an official address to US Charge d’Affaires in Israel Stephanie Hallett, thanking the US for its tough stance against Hamas terrorists and its broad support for Israel.

Your Excellency Ms. Hallett,

On behalf of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress leaders, please accept my appreciation for the US firm stand against terrorism and such devoted support of Israel.

In these most challenging days for the people of Israel, when the death toll of the atrocious terrorist attacks on our citizens rises daily, and we get more and more horrifying testimonies, we need a voice of the civilized world condemning the inhuman brutality of Hamas terrorists. We need our biggest strategic partner and friend behind us in such times.

We are very grateful to US President Joe Biden, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other officials for condemning Hamas terrorism, expressing unconditional support to the people of Israel, and providing our state with any assistance needed.

We would also like to express our deepest condolences for the death of American citizens in this barbaric attack on the State of Israel.

May their memory and the memory of all those killed be a blessing.

The State of Israel has always strived to ensure equal rights for all religions throughout its history.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) strongly condemns any illegal attempts to harm, offend, or damage Christians. We believe that the recent increase in hooliganism against Christian pilgrims in the Old City of Jerusalem must stop, and those responsible for these actions must be held accountable under Israeli law. We therefore support the swift actions of law enforcement, which detained the suspects in the illegal acts the day after the incident.

We call on the Israeli authorities to take decisive preventive measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Insults against Christians and their holy sites are unacceptable. This has been stated by the chief Sephardic and Ashkenazi rabbis of Israel and the Prime Minister of the Jewish state. In addition to violating objective moral and legal norms, such actions harm the reputation of the State of Israel on the international arena.

The EAJC will continue to actively develop interfaith and transcultural dialogue programs in the spirit of the International Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which is taking place in Kazakhstan with the participation of representatives of the Catholic Church, headed by Pope Francis.

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On the night of Tuesday, October 3rd, the media reported an attack on a synagogue in the Armenian capital of Yerevan. According to the published information, windows of the building were shattered, and the walls were defaced with paint. The group “Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia” claimed responsibility for the incident. In the message accompanying the attack, Jews were called “enemies of the Armenian people.”

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) strongly condemns such acts of vandalism and anti-Semitism and calls on Armenian law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the incident. It is essential to identify the true motives of the authors of the threats and the vandals who desecrated the synagogue, establish their identities, and hold them accountable for their actions. We urge the Armenian authorities to do everything possible to prevent such actions in the future.

Commenting on the incident, EAJC General Director Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov noted: “The rhetoric used by the vandals who published threats against the Jews of Armenia is a real “red flag” for the global Jewish community. Such slogans were used in the last century to justify the most heinous crimes against the Jewish people. We cannot allow individuals using such actions and words for intimidation and threats to continue committing crimes with impunity. The vandals who desecrated the synagogue building, as well as the authors of the anti-Semitic statement, must be punished to the full extent of the law.”

Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), held a working meeting with Dani Dayan, the Chairman of Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. The meeting took place at the EAJC office in Herzliya.

The parties discussed current issues related to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and outlined work plans for the upcoming Jewish year 5784.

The Chairman of Yad Vashem presented to the EAJC President new publications from the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem. Among them are books titled “Unwanted Memory: The History of Holocaust Monuments in the Soviet Union”, “Distrust, Hostility and Solidarity: Jews and Non-Jews during the Holocaust in the USSR”, and others.

“Our meeting is extremely important for transmitting and preserving information and memories of the catastrophe of European Jewry. But not only that. Joint educational work is meant to remind us all of the devastating consequences of wars and the value of human life.

By presenting new stories, facts, and perspectives on the horrific events of the past, we bring freshness to the dialogue, continue it, and do not let it fade. It is extremely important in today’s world to convey information using various formats – literature, scientific research, visual and fine arts. The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress considers the perpetuation of the memory of the Holocaust as one of the most important priorities of our activity, and it is a great honor for us to support joint projects with the Yad Vashem Memorial Center,” noted EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili.

The Moshe Mirilashvili Center for Research on the Holocaust in the Soviet Union, under the International Institute for Holocaust Research at Yad Vashem, has been operating since 2016. The Center’s mission is to initiate and promote innovative research in the history of Jews during World War II on territories that were part of the USSR at the time of Nazi Germany’s invasion on June 22, 1941.

The Moshe Mirilashvili Center organizes conferences and seminars on various topics, conducts research, implements internet projects, and prepares various materials for publication. In addition, the Center supports the publication of books, collections of articles, and annotated collections of archival documents.

During a ceremony on September 22nd, marking the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the lower house of the Canadian Parliament (House of Commons), its Speaker Anthony Rota honored 98-year-old Ukrainian World War II veteran Yaroslav Gunka. It was later revealed that Gunka had served in a Nazi unit implicated in the mass murder of Jews — the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (also known as “Galicia”). The plenary session hall greeted Gunka with applause.

This move drew justified condemnation from prominent Jewish organizations in Canada, such as the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) joins in the strong condemnation of the incident and demands a thorough investigation into the circumstances. We appreciate the apology from the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada, Anthony Rota, and find his decision to resign from his position justified. However, the proportionality of this consequence can only be determined by a comprehensive review. Only such a review can help prevent similar incidents in the future.

It’s essential to understand that this isn’t merely about political machinations or factual errors. The memory of the gravest tragedies of the past, especially the catastrophe of European Jewry during World War II, is foundational in the political and humanitarian landscape of the modern world. We often encounter attempts to deliberately distort the memory of the Holocaust. Those who allow themselves such actions ignore objective data and testimonies, showing no interest in historical truth. They replace reality based on their immediate political interests. We must never give these individuals a reason to doubt the firm, united, and sound position of the Jewish community and, more broadly, the global community on the most crucial historical issues.

As we see today, the echoes of World War II events, as well as the malicious distortion of history, result in new major tragedies and the death of innocent people. Regrettably, officials from various countries merely seek reasons to continue referencing the catastrophe of European Jewry, drawing contrived and inappropriate historical parallels with current events. The EAJC strongly condemns what happened in the lower house of the Canadian Parliament and insists on the need for a comprehensive investigation of the incident. Such incidents must not be allowed in the future.

The leaders of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress expressed their heartfelt congratulations to the Republic of Moldova on its 32nd Independence Day. In a letter to President Maia Sandu, EAJC President Michael Mirilashvili expressed his appreciation for the country’s efforts in combating antisemitism and honoring the history of the Jewish community.

“We sincerely appreciate your proactive approach to fighting antisemitism in all its manifestations and supporting the Jewish community by honoring its history. The recent unveiling of a memorial in the Coșăuți forest and other initiatives commemorating the thousands of Jews who perished during the Holocaust is a significant gesture that underscores this commitment. We believe that such actions, aimed at valuing the shared history and learning its lessons while fostering stronger bilateral relations, resonate not only in the Republic of Moldova itself but globally as well”, wrote President Mirilashvili.

On June 12, with the support of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), a meeting was held between the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Israel, Mukhtar Mamedov, and the Mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai. EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov also participated in the meeting, during which cooperation in culture and tourism was discussed.

“We warmly welcome the busy work of Azerbaijan’s recently opened diplomatic mission in Israel. Establishing connections at the intergovernmental and municipal levels leads to a comprehensive development of relations between our peoples and countries. The leaders of the EAJC are happy to facilitate meetings between representatives of diplomatic missions from countries in the Euro-Asian region with the Israeli state and municipal leaders. We are also grateful to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai for his warm reception and readiness for cooperation.”

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tel Aviv officially opened in March 2023. The Azerbaijani diplomatic mission became Israel’s first official representation of a state whose majority population professes Shiite Islam.

Earlier, EAJC leaders took part in the first official celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tel Aviv and a special reception on the occasion of the embassy’s opening, with the participation of Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs.