Photo: WJC

Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) delegation led by its President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili took part in the World Jewish Congress Executive Committee meeting that had taken place in Rome on November 21-22. The Jewish communal leaders from more than 50 countries were gathered for the first-ever formal event held by a Jewish organization at the Vatican since the founding of the Catholic Church. Its participants, including the EAJC leaders, agreed to continue the interfaith dialogue to promote humanistic values and combat the main global challenges of humanity.

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, in his earlier address in the Vatican’s Synod Hall, claimed “Kishreinu” process launch, “[which] reinforces the common future of our two people” as a “new stage in the Catholic-Jewish bond”. “Those of us here today are eager to promote our bond with the Catholic Church,” he said.

Pope Francis in his welcome speech pointed at “the task” of “our two communities of faith”: “working to make the world more fraternal, combating forms of inequality and promoting greater justice, so that peace will not remain an otherworldly promise, but become a present reality in our world,” he added.

EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili declared the willingness of the biggest international Jewish organizations to mediate peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. According to Dr. Mirilashvili, since the war began, EAJC leaders have initiated a major effort to persuade the Russian and Ukrainian governments to achieve a ceasefire and begin the negotiating process.

“We continue to insist that almost no war has a legitimate excuse and the bloodshed must be stopped. As the biggest international Jewish organizations in the World, which do not have any political affiliation or stand, we are once again proposing our services as potential mediators in peace negotiations. We will continue to do everything we can, trying to prevent other potential tragedies of this war”, EAJC President said.

Also remarked Dr. Mirilashvili the rapidly changing attitude to Israel among the Islamic World. The number of public figures and religious authorities that resist the anti-Israel narrative and call for peace is increasing in Islamic World. As claimed by Dr. Mirilashvili, “we witness a truly New Middle East”.

“Huge delegation represents Israel at the Climate Change Conference in Egypt, Israeli journalists on a special conference explain the election results and political prospects to senior government officials in Abu Dhabi and many more examples like this. In general, we see how much the peace process and the rich scientific, cultural, and technological exchange lead us to incomparably more than senseless enmity. It doesn’t mean that we have to agree on everything, but it does mean that we are carrying on a civilized dialogue and can discuss our differences patiently and respectfully”, EAJC President said.

The leaders of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress were saddened to hear of the loss of former World Jewish Congress Secretary General Michael Schneider who passed away at the age of 83. On behalf of the EAJC, we pay our sincere condolences to his family and colleagues. We deeply mourn this loss with the Jewish Community all around the World.

Mr. Schneider was an amazing person who devoted the most active years of his life to serving the good of Jewish Community. Mr. Schneider made a special contribution to all areas of social activity, which he devoted himself to throughout his life.

Mr. Schneider will forever remain in our hearts. May his memory be a blessing.

Euro-Asian Jewish Congress is glad to introduce you the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies Academic Chairman Adjunct Associate Professor Ze’ev Khanin. This is a new and qualitatively more significant level of cooperation with him. Since the establishment of the institute back in 2018, he has chaired its academic board as a volunteer. In his new status, Prof. Ze’ev Khanin will oversee the IEAJS projects and conduct academic and applied research on the current conditions of the Jewish communities of the CIS region, Eastern Europe, Western Balkans, Central and East Asia.

It will include the publication (in cooperation with one of the leading European-American academic publishers De Gruyter – Berlin and Boston), of his book named “Post-Soviet Jewry in Transition”. The first volume of this series is a monograph prepared on the basis of a large-scale Jewish communities of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova and Kazakhstan study, conducted as the initiative of the EAJC in 2019-2020. It is scheduled for publication at the end of 2022.

EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov:

“We are extremely pleased with the fact that the cooperation between the EAJC and Prof. Ze’ev Khanin is reaching a new level. Since we have launched the IEAJS, we have managed to implement a number of significant projects – such as conferences, researches and, of course, release of the EAJC Yearbook consists of articles by leading experts in Jewish Diaspora, Jewish studies, history, culture and diplomacy. The great part in this work was played by Prof. Khanin. Our Institute is already has a recognition and we intend to expand and strengthen our presence in the academic community. Now we are living in the moment of another global geopolitical crises. That is why extremely important to pay attention to objective research that can become the basis for making complex decisions.”

Biography:

Dr. Vladimir (Ze’ev) Khanin is one of the leading Israeli experts on Israel-FSU relations and politics and the Russian-speaking Jewish community in Israel and the diaspora. He received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Moscow Institute for African Studies, the USSR Academy of Sciences in 1989, and in 1991 completed post-Doctoral studies in the Institute for Russian and Soviet Studies at the University of Oxford, U.K. He currently serves as Academic Chairman of the Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies in Herzliya, Israel. He is also an Associate Professor with the Department of Political Studies at Bar Ilan University and Senior Researcher at Ariel University. He gave visiting courses and public lectures for the Israeli and FSU Government as well as gave visiting courses and lectures on Israeli and the FSU Politics and Society in a few universities in Great Britain, the USA, Germany, and the FSU (including London, Boston, Oxford, Potsdam, Moscow, Kiev, Lvov, Kharkov, Riga, Minsk, and Baku). He also serves as a political commentator for the Israeli Channel Nine TV, The Voice of Israel Radio, and the First Radio, Israel. He is the author and editor and co-author of 9 academic books; his interviews and articles often appear within various Israeli, American, European, as well as Russian and other FSU printed and electronic media.

About the IEAJS:

The Institute for Euro-Asian Jewish Studies (IEAJS), founded by the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, is envisioned as an academic think-tank and platform for academic and professional exchange among leading experts that study Jewish communities of the Former Soviet Union, Balkan and Asian countries, as well as “transnational Jewish diasporas”—communities that are detached from their countries of origin.

The Institute will facilitate academic and applied studies that examine the current affairs and needs of Euro-Asian Jewish communities, their social and political standing in their host countries, as well as their relations with the State of Israel and other global and regional powers. It will also investigate Jewish migration processes and the historical, cultural and political heritage of these communities.

ОThe Institute will support original academic and applied research; facilitate conferences, seminars, presentations and other academic and public events; and provide a platform for academic publications.

On October 26, the Russian edition ‘Argumenty i Fakty’ published an article by Lieutenant General Alexei Pavlov, Assistant Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. The author of the article under the heading “What is cooked in the “witch’s cauldron”” calls the supporters of Lubavitcher Hasidism (Chabad) a “cult” and calls for the “desatanization” of Ukraine. According to Pavlov, “the main life principle of the Lubavitcher Hasidim is the superiority of the supporters of the sect over all nations and peoples.” Such formulations caused a storm of indignation in the Jewish community of Russia and the Israeli media.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress considers these assessments absolutely unacceptable. Such views, expressed in the pages of one of the most popular printed publications in Russia, can have dangerous consequences and lead to a surge in anti-Semitism. Especially given the position of the article’s author. We are convinced that a person related to the national security issues of any state has no right to express such provocative ideas. We urge the Russian authorities to pay attention to this problem.

Commenting on the publication, EAJC President Dr. Michael Mirilashvili noted: “The ideas, that the author of the article allowed himself to express, in the last century led to the most terrible crimes against the Jewish people, the consequences of which we still feel. People who hold such views should not be allowed to spread them freely in the media.”

“Attempts to distort ideas about Judaism in the public consciousness are absolutely unacceptable and have no place in the modern world. As we remember from history, it was the spread of such ideas that led to the most terrible events of the past. People spouting hateful ideas, usually are not particularly interested in historical truth. They do not think about the consequences of their words, because their main driver is cheap popularity among radical groups. Such manipulations are unacceptable, since their destructive side effect is the incitement of anti-Semitic sentiments in society,” said EAJC President Michael Mirilashvili.

Photo: Yossi Rosenboim

On October 25, the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Jerusalem hosted a reception on the occasion of the Albanian Prime Minister’s Edi Ram visit to Israel. The event was organized by the Honorary President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Alexander Mashkevich. As part of a special ceremony, Alexander Mashkevich, together with EAJC President Michael Mirilashvili, presented the head of the Albanian government with an award for special merits in maintaining Israeli-Albanian relations and supporting the local Jewish community.

At the ceremony, the close historical ties between the Albanian and Jewish peoples were especially noted: during the 2nd World War, many Albanias were saving Jews, often risking their own lives. In this regard, the Jewish people and the State of Israel express their gratitude to the people of Albania.

In addition, an important episode in the partnership between the Albanian authorities and the EAJC was the joint evacuation of refugees from Afghanistan to Albania and then to Canada. Emergency assistance was provided to 40 men and women by several organizations and individuals, including EAJС Honorary President  Alexander Mashkevich and EAJC Chairman of the Board Aharon G. Frenkel.

The Jewish National Fund (JNF-KKL) has completed a project to build ten protective structures in Israeli communities located on the border with the Gaza Strip. In addition to bomb shelters, the program also included the construction of a so-called “Safety Road” in Kibbutz Nir Am. On September 22, a solemn ceremony of its opening took place. The event was attended by public organizations, officials, and politicians. The project was financially supported by the President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Dr. Michael Mirilashvili, EAJC Vice-Presidents David Yakobashvili, Victor Naishuller, and Boris Spektor.

Speaking at the ceremony, the head of the EAJC recalled the massive rocket attack on the south of Israel during the anti-terrorist operation “Dawn” in Gaza in early August.

“In our holy writings, the Almighty expresses to us words of approval, words of support. It is said: “Your enemies will seek support from you. The kings will worship you. You will not borrow, but you will lend,” Dr. Mirilashvili said.

“If you think about the deep meaning of these words, you can see their embodiment around us. Literally, the whole world is watching us, the State of Israel. Our former enemies are now looking at us with hope and faith. They understand that we can support them, and help them. Until recently, this seemed impossible, but such times have come – thanks to the ‘Abraham Accords’ between Israel and the Arab countries. These agreements just two years ago made possible what seemed impossible for decades. Thus began a new chapter in the history of the Middle East. And today we are its active participants.

In this regard, if our former enemies rely on us today, then we must show our strength in defending our own cities and settlements so that those around us will believe in us even more. If only we, the Jewish people, would believe in ourselves as other nations believe in us. Our prosperity can only be reached by unity, which we clearly lack today. On the eve of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, I wish our people unity, peace, and prosperity,” summed up the President of the Congress.

10 days after the end of the anti-terrorist operation of the Israel Defense Force’s “Guardian of the Walls” in the Gaza Strip at the end of May 2021, the Jewish National Fund launched a project to build several dozen mobile protective structures in southern Israeli settlements, close to the border with the Gaza Strip. The project was implemented in close coordination with local settlement councils and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. Particular attention was paid to the border farmland area to ensure the protection of farmers during potential shelling from the Strip.

The military operation “Guardian of the Walls” (May 2021) began in response to a massive rocket attack 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 Israel, most of them toward the southern cities of the country. As a result of the shelling, 8 Israelis (including a 5-year-old child) and three citizens of foreign states were killed. More than 350 citizens of the Jewish state were injured of varying severity.

On September 14-15, a delegation of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) took part in the VII Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions in Nur-Sultan. In total, over 100 delegations from 50 countries of the world gathered in the capital of Kazakhstan, including representatives of the Catholic Church led by Pope Francis, leaders of the Islamic and Buddhist world, Orthodox churches, including the Patriarch of Jerusalem, as well as the chief Sephardic and Ashkenazi rabbis of Israel. The forum participants discussed the role of religious leaders in the spiritual and social development of mankind in the post-pandemic period.

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress at the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions was represented by EAJC Board Chairman Aaron G. Frenkel, EAJC Honorary President Alexander Mashkevich, and EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yakov. They took part in the discussion about issues of interaction between world confessions and the development of relations between Kazakhstan and Israel in various fields.

Opening the forum, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted that the land of Kazakhstan “for millennia has acted as a connecting bridge between East and West.” “Currently, representatives of more than 100 ethnic groups live in harmony in Kazakhstan, and about 4,000 religious associations representing 18 confessions operate freely. We believe that this is our priceless wealth and inalienable advantage. Holding the Congress is an important part of Kazakhstan’s policy aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation both in our country and around the world,” the head of state noted.

EAJC Director General Dr. Haim Ben Yaakov spoke at the plenary session at the Congress. In his speech, he called on statesmen, religious authorities, opinion leaders, and influencers to “use their voice to promote the values of acceptance, respect, dialogue, and multiculturalism.”

“I am also happy to represent Israel here,” he said. – A state built on the basis of centuries-old biblical values. Historically, the land of Israel has always been at the crossroads of continents, civilizations, empires, and peoples. Such a sensitive geographical position required and still requires maximum diplomacy from us. In the difficult conditions of wars and terror, we persistently offer peace to our neighbors. Finally, these efforts are bearing fruit. The recently signed ‘Abrahamic Accords’ have already led to unprecedented close cooperation between Israel and the countries of the Persian Gulf.”

“We already see how much the peace process, the rich scientific, cultural, and technological exchange lead us to incomparably more than senseless enmity. It doesn’t mean that we have to agree on everything, but it does mean that we are carrying on a civilized dialogue and can discuss our differences patiently and respectfully. And thus, we are on the right path.

As part of the official visit, the delegation of the Congress, together with the chief Sephardic and Ashkenazi rabbis of Israel Yitzhak Yosef and David Lau, took part in a festive event dedicated to the 18th anniversary of the Astana synagogue, meeting with the leaders of the local Jewish community.

In addition, on the morning of September 15, EAJC leaders took part in a tree-planting ceremony in the new Peace and Harmony park. As part of the working meetings, the leaders of the Congress talked with the Chairman of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan Maulen Ashimbayev, rabbis from the regions of Kazakhstan, American rabbi Marc Schneier, executive vice-chairman of the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations Malcolm Hoenlein and executive vice-president of the National American Conference in Support of Eurasian Jewry Mark Levin.