Euroasian Jewish News

Joseph Zisels and Temur Iacobashvili

"Roots of Tolerance" for the Caucasus

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) General Council Chairman Josef Zisels came to Tbilisi with a working visit. As part of his trip, he met with the State Minister of Georgia on Reintegration Temur Iacobashvili. At the meeting, the possibilities and format for support of the international youth camp “Roots of Tolerance” for the Caucasus region by the Georgian state were discussed.
The “Roots of Tolerance” is one of the most important components of the program for establishing the basics of national and religious tolerance, responsibility, and mercy which is promoted by the EAJC. This is an unusual form of summer camps, developed by EAJC initiative by specially invited experts, specialists in education, and methodists. These camps, held yearly in difference countries of the euro-asian region, have groups that represent different nationalities and religions. Each new day the whole camp is immersed in the culture and traditions of one of the represented nationalities. Thus, the participants “live out” in real time the history, traditions, holidays and everyday life of several people during their rotation.
The EAJC President Alexander Mashkevich noted when rating the work of the “Roots of Tolerance,” “We have tried this project in several countries and have gotten high marks. I see our task as to spreat our method to all countries where the EAJC is active, and to share our experience with anyone that is interested.”