EAJC General Director participated in Azerbaijan’s Independence Day celebration

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tel Aviv held the first-ever official event dedicated to the Republic’s Independence Day. High-ranking politicians, diplomats, scientists, businessmen, journalists, as well as public and state figures of Israel and Azerbaijan took part in the solemn ceremony. Among them are Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel, Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev, head of the inter-parliamentary group between the two countries MK Vladimir Beliak, head of the Israeli Our Home Israel party Avigdor Lieberman and Israeli Defense Ministry General Director Eyal Zamir.

Among the guests of the event was also the Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov. During the conversation with the heads of the Azerbaijani diplomatic mission, the parties agreed on an official meeting of the Ambassador with the Congress leaders in order to discuss in detail bilateral relations between Jerusalem and Baku, as well as issues related to the Jewish community of Azerbaijan.

Opening the event, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Israel Mukhtar Mammadov spoke about the history of the independent state and pointed to the “strategic level” of cooperation between Jerusalem and Baku, achieved in recent years.

Israeli Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel called the key to close relations between the two countries “mutual respect and trust.” She recalled her meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and stressed that the leaders of the two states “are working together to ensure peace and stability in the region and throughout the world.” According to her, the Jewish community living in Azerbaijan plays a special role in the development of relations between the two countries.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Fariz Rzayev noted that 2023 marks the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic and the 100th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. He also congratulated the guests of the event on the 75th anniversary of Israel’s independence, celebrated in April 2023. The Deputy Minister stressed that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel in various fields continues and pointed to the “great potential” for its further development.

The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Tel Aviv officially opened in March 2023. The Azerbaijani diplomatic mission has become for Israel the first official representation of the state, the majority of whose population professes the Shiite branch of Islam.

“All the years of its existence, Azerbaijan has invariably proved its status as an authoritative, tolerant, multicultural, and multi-confessional state. The combination of traditions and historical heritage, on the one hand, and openness to the values of the modern world, on the other hand, allows it not only to pursue a balanced domestic policy but also strengthen external ties. At the beginning of last year, Azerbaijan became one of the few Muslim countries where International Holocaust Remembrance Day was declared as an officially marked date. Today we see another step towards the Jewish people and the State of Israel – the opening of an embassy in Tel Aviv. I am convinced that this gesture will become yet another milestone in joint cooperation between our states in the field of culture, science and economy,” noted EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili.

EAJC Director General took part in the Aliyah Commission of Knesset

Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, took part in the special meeting of the parliamentary commission on Aliyah, Integration, and Diaspora. The discussion on Monday, May 15, was devoted to the report of the Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli.

During the meeting, Minister pointed out the growth of anti-Semitism in the world: in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 22% occurred more than in the same period last year. Furthermore, the number of incidents where violence accompanied anti-Semitic manifestations increased by 48%. In addition, 68% of anti-Semitic statements in social networks, such as delegitimizing and demonizing the State of Israel, were classified as “new anti-Semitism”.

Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli said: “Our rule of thumb in the Ministry is that we react to anti-Semitism wherever it occurs around the world. We have to pay close attention to the development of the new anti-Semitism in the world, which is the delegitimization of the State of Israel.”

“The problem of anti-Semitism in the world requires careful consideration, harsh reaction, and vigorous action to prevent intolerance. Techniques, however, should be adapted to every region’s conditions, especially considering the rapidly changing situation. Therefore, we are ready to start systematic professional work with the Ministry in all aspects of Jewish life in the Euro-Asian region, which is going through a severe humanitarian and political crisis. These very days we are carrying out extensive counseling between the EAJC and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs”, Dr. Ben Yakov said.

Avi Cohen Skalie, Director General of the Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, referred to the aid that the Ministry provides to the Jews of Ukraine during the war: “We allocate a significant budget that goes to the needs of physical protection of the communal facilities. Beyond that, we are allocating a budget of about 12 million shekels to strengthen the community and mental resilience of the Jews in Ukraine and arrange summer camps for refugees.”

The EAJC has supported the opening of a new “mobile bomb shelter” in southern Israel

A solemn ceremony was held in Kibbutz Ruhama, located on the southern border of Israel in the Shaar HaNegev Regional Council, to open a mobile bomb shelter. The shelter will protect against rocket attacks by terrorist organizations from the Gaza Strip. The event was attended by public and state figures, politicians, and prominent scientists. Among them were Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress; Professor Michael Zinigrad, a renowned Israeli chemist and former Rector of Ariel University; Professor Zeev Hanin, Scientific Director of the Institute of Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAEI); retired IDF General and Chairman of the Israel Aerospace Agency, creator of the national cybersecurity system Professor Isaac Ben-Israel; Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov, CEO of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress; Menachem Busheev, Treasurer of the Congres; Robert Tivyayev, Deputy Chairman of JNF-KKL; Igal Yasinov, CEO of JNF-KKL-Eurasia; Roni Vinnikov, Deputy CEO of JNF-KKL. The project was financially supported by Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress.

The organizers of the ceremony emphasized that the location of the mobile bomb shelter was not chosen by chance. Kibbutz Ruhama is one of the leading tourist destinations in southern Israel. Every February, thousands of guests from all over the country come here to witness the blooming of red anemones.

In September 2022, the press service of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress reported on the completion of a project to build ten mobile protective structures in Israeli settlements on the Gaza Strip border. In addition to the bomb shelters, the program also included the construction of a so-called “security road” in the border kibbutz of Nir-Am.

The JNF-KKL leadership noted the particular contribution of Dr. Michael Mirilashvili in financing projects aimed at ensuring the safety of residents of the southern Jewish state.

“It’s essential that we build bomb shelters exactly where they are needed, including places many tourists visit. Often, funds are allocated only to build objects in the central districts to be visible, but not where they are actually needed. This case is just the opposite,” said Igal Yasinov, CEO of JNF-KKL-Eurasia, thanking Dr. Mirilashvili for initiating the project.

According to the officials of the Fund, the previously erected mobile bomb shelters demonstrated their effectiveness during the IDF’s anti-terrorism operation “Shield and Arrow” in the Gaza Strip, which took place from May 9 to 14.

Additionally, the “security road” built with active financial assistance from the President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress helped the IDF to evacuate the residents of the border kibbutz of Nir-Am during the operation.

Recall that the decision to launch a project to build several dozen mobile protective structures in southern Israel, as well as in kibbutzim located directly on the border with the Palestinian enclave, was made ten days after the end of the IDF’s anti-terrorism operation “Guardian of the Walls” in the Gaza Strip in late May 2021. Its implementation occurred in close coordination between JNF-KKL, local settlement councils, and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Particular attention was paid to the area of border agricultural land to ensure the protection of farmers during potential shelling from the Gaza Strip.

The “Guardian of the Walls” military operation lasted from May 10 to 21, 2021. It began in response to the massive rocket attacks on Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip by terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad. During the escalation of the conflict, about 4,360 rockets were fired from the enclave toward the country’s southern cities.

EAEC and KKL honored repatriate scientists during the annual event in the Negev

A ceremony was held at the Grove of Repatriate Scientists in Kibbutz Ruhama, located in northern Negev, to acknowledge the valuable contributions made by scientists from the former Soviet Union to Israeli science.

The event was organized by the Jewish National Fund (JNF-KKL) and supported by the Eurasian Jewish Congress (EAJC). The ceremony was attended by EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, prominent Israeli chemist and former rector of Ariel University Prof. Michael Zinigrad, research director of the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAJS) Prof. Ze’ev Khanin, retired Israel Defense Forces General, Chairman of the Israel Aerospace Agency and Creator of the National Cyber Security System Prof. Yitzhak Ben Israel, EAJC General Director Dr. Haim Ben Yakov, EAJC Treasurer Menachem Bushuyev, JNF-KKL Vice Chairman Robert Tivyaev, and JNF-KKL Deputy General Director Rony Vinnikov.

During the ceremony, the scientists were presented with certificates of gratitude on behalf of the leaders of the EAJC and JNF-KKL. The organizers acknowledged the significant contribution of repatriated scientists to the development of academic life in Israel and agreed to continue celebrating their achievements at a symbolically important venue.

The Jewish National Fund’s Planted Grove of Repatriate Scholars was established in 2021 with the generous backing of the EAJC. The grove honors the exceptional contributions of repatriate scholars to the advancement of Israeli science.

EAJC holds a conference on the Law of Return

Due to the security situation in Israel conference was postponed. A new date will be announced later on.

Peres Academic Center ,in conjunction with the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, announced a conference ‘Law of Return. What’s Next?’ on the 10th of May.

As a broad political and public debate on the Law of Return is going on in Israel, the conference, hosting political and public leaders, scholars, opinion makers, and activists, will address multiple aspects of this complex issue.

The event will occur at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot and will be held in Hebrew. It will also be broadcast live.

Registration is required: bit.ly/law-of-return

EAJC congratulates on the 75th anniversary of the State of Israel!

Today the Jewish world celebrates 75 years since the beginning of a new chapter in our history. When our ancient nation, having returned to the land of our ancestors, found a modern state.

75 years since a seemingly forgotten name reappeared on the world map. 75 years of every Jew on earth having his own home. 75 years as the Jewish people independently decide their fate. 75 difficult years full of events, challenges, victories, and successes.

From the bottom of our hearts, we congratulate the citizens of Israel and Jews around the world on the Independence Day of the Jewish state.

EAJC welcomes the opening of the Israeli embassy in Turkmenistan

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen participated in the ceremony of opening the Israeli embassy in the capital of the Republic of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat. A solemn event took place on Thursday, April 20. It is noted that territorially this diplomatic mission has become the closest to the border with Iran: the distance from the embassy to the Turkmen-Iranian border is only 17 km.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress welcomes this step. The opening of the embassy of the Jewish state in Ashgabat is a testimony to a significant improvement in relations between Israel and Muslim countries in the Central Asian region.

Earlier, the head of Israeli diplomacy also made a visit to Azerbaijan. The Israeli delegation met in Baku with President Ilham Aliyev. The conversation was devoted to issues of strengthening political alliance between Israel and Azerbaijan, partnership in defense, regional security and counter-terrorism, as well as further development of economic and tourist ties between the two countries.

The talks took place shortly after the opening of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Tel Aviv, which also received great support from Congress leaders.

 

Photo: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO

De Gruyter Announced “Post-Soviet Jewry in Transition” Series with IEAJS

A German publishing house De Gruyter launched the book series “Post-Soviet Jewry in Transition” in cooperation with Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies.

The publisher noted, “At the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the communist-ruled Soviet Union, more than two million Jews left their home, most permanently. They dispersed not only to the United States and Israel, the current major Jewish demographic centers, but also to Central Europe, Canada, Australia, and other places around the world.

At the same time, about 900,000 Jews and their family members still live in post-Soviet countries, despite certain negative demographic trends. Post-Soviet Jews around the globe maintain customs, worldviews, and networks of their own, produce new subcultural realities, and are active in the public sphere.

They form a new, transnational subethnic group of Jewish people, a new Russian-speaking Diaspora, whose collective identification appears against the backdrop of a gradual decay of the former Soviet Jewish identities. Most Russian-speaking Jews enjoy their own networks and infrastructures in local communities, embodying a changing balance of identification between country-of-residence and the broader transnational Russian-speaking Jewish Diaspora.

This series sheds light on post-Soviet Jewry across the globe, a new type of modern Jewish Diaspora in transition”.

Especially for Yom HaShoah, EAJC has released an educational page about the Holocaust

On Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day, The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress has launched a special project – ‘Holocaust. An Attempt to Understand’.

The project presents an online exposition designed to introduce users to the topic of the Holocaust. The project is divided into three chapters: the first one immerses the visitor into the scale of the Holocaust with the help of numbers and proportions, the second one explains how it happened and how it became possible, the third one asks the question of why we should continue talking about the events of the Holocaust and invites to delve deeper on this complex subject.

The project is available at: holocaust.eajc.org

The EAJC pays considerable attention to educational projects about the Holocaust.

Earlier this year, EAJC arranged the online premiere of the animated movie “263 Nights”, which reveals the story of 26 people hiding from the horrors of the Nazi occupation of Minsk in a dug basement for 263 days. The movie won an award at the Moscow Jewish Film Festival in October 2021. This year, Yefim Gimelstein, surviving witness of those events, lit one of the six remembrance torches at the official Yom HaShoah commemoration ceremony at Yad Vashem.

In 2020 EAJC launched a special website collecting educational materials about the history of the Holocaust (“SHOA”).

In 2021 EAJC supported the publishing of the book “Righteous Among the Nations. Ukraine”. As part of the events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Babi Yar tragedy, the book was presented to the President of the State of Israel, Yitzhak Herzog. The book is available online.

Azerbaijan Opened its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Azerbaijan inaugurated its first-ever embassy in Israel. The ceremony took place in Tel Aviv. It was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, who arrived in Israel earlier on a special visit, the head of European Jews Community in Azerbaijan Alexander Sharovsky, the Director General of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Dr. Haim Ben Yakov and high-ranking politicians, diplomats, activists, officials and scientists from two countries.

Earlier this week, the Azeri Ambassador, Mukhtar Mammadov, submitted his letter of Credence to President Isaac Herzog. Azerbaijan has not had an official diplomatic representation in Israel for about 30 years. Nevertheless, Israel was one of the first countries in the world to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan in December 1991 and inaugurated an embassy there in 1993.

Recognized as a secular country, Azerbaijan is the first Muslim-Shiite country to establish an embassy in the State of Israel.

The thriving Jewish community, one of the largest in the Muslim world (12-18 thousand people) enjoys complete freedom of religion and worship.

Over the years, the EAJC has contributed to the deepening of Israeli-Azerbaijani cooperation. Thus, the issue of opening an embassy in Israel was previously raised during a work meeting between the EAJC leadership and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in 2019. Then he promised to gradually promote this issue. Congress’ leaders warmly welcomed the decision to open an embassy, noting this event as another step towards strengthening diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The Azeri diplomatic mission has become for Israel the first official representation of the state, the majority of whose population professes the Shiite branch of Islam. Following the leadership of the Jewish state, the leaders of the EAJC join in expressing gratitude to their Azeri colleagues for the development of bilateral partnership.

As EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili said, “Throughout the years of its independence Azerbaijan has consistently proved its status as authoritative, tolerant, multicultural and multi-confessional state. The combination of traditions and historical heritage, on the one hand, and openness to the values of the modern world, on the other hand, allows it not only to pursue a balanced domestic policy, but also to strengthen external ties. At the very beginning of last year, Azerbaijan became one of the few Muslim countries where International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an official state date. Today we see another step towards the Jewish people and the State of Israel – the opening of an embassy in Tel Aviv. I am convinced that this gesture will become the starting point in a new round of joint cooperation between our states in the field of culture, science and economy”.