Euroasian Jewish News

Opening of WCRJ Central Office / EAJC President's Greeting

On December 15-16, 2002, in Israel there was a session of the Coordination Council of the World Congress of Russian Jewry (WCRJ).
In connection with opening of the WCRJ Central Office in Jerusalem, Head of the continent's largest Jewish organization, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) Dr. Alexander Mashkevich sent a greeting, which was announced by the EAJC General Council Chairman Mr. Joseph Zissels (see the text of the greeting below).
GREETINGS BY THE EURO-ASIAN JEWISH CONGRESS (EAJC) PRESIDENT
In the name of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) uniting the Jews from 3 continents and 2 mainlands I would like to congratulate the World Congress of Russian Jewry on opening the Central Office in Jerusalem.
Without ties with Israel, impossible is high-grade spiritual life of each Jew in the Diaspora. For long years all of us, the Jews of the former USSR whom now it is usual to name Russian-speaking, were cut off by the "Iron Curtain" from Israel and Jewish Diasporas in other parts of the world. Unfortunately, many failed to sustain this heavy burden and preferred to assimilate.
However, we remember also those who for long years of "refusal" struggled for their natural right to live on the ground of ancestors and to meet there the Jews from all over the world. We remember also that among father-founders of the State of Israel there were quite a few Russian Jews. Russian Zionists participated in formulating the final program of revival of the Jewish state. And memory of these heroes of Zion, great and unknown, will be kept not only in the Land of Israel, but also among all the Jews, whose roots stem from Russia.
By the way, significant part of the Jews united by our Euro-Asian Jewish Congress - from Australia up to Western Europe are not only Russian-speaking Jews, but also their English-, French- and even Japanese-speaking descendants.
And itself the Russian-speaking Jewish community continues to transform. Nowadays in the countries of the CIS and Baltic States a new Jewish nucleus is being formed. There has appeared a new phenomenon of modern Russian-speaking Jew utterly integrated in his environment and at the same time keeping up fidelity to the Jewish Tradition. It is especially pleasant that the young generation knows Hebrew together with Russian, and also frequents Israel, considering it their second home.
Therefore once again I want to note, that wherever the Jews live, feeling their connection with the Land of Israel, they will always be Zionists. Today, when Israel is experiencing hard times, to be a Zionist means to search and find not in words but in practice forms of expressing solidarity with the people and leadership of the Jewish state.
When half a year ago I addressed a message to the WCRJ Constituent Congress, I emphasized, that for our Euro-Asian Jewish Congress it is a natural partner. Let today's solemn event open up to us a new page in our partnership for the good of Israel and all the Jewish people!

Alexander Mashkevich,
President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC)

EAJC Public Relations and Media Department