On the 6th of September, a charity evening dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the Israeli charity organization ZAKA took place in the Kyiv InterContinental hotel. The evening was held with the aid of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC). ZAKA, an organization which chose the words "search and rescue" as its slogan, is dedicated to identifying people who were hurt in terroristic acts, accidents, and natural disasters, and providing first aid for people in emergencies.
The one who initiated the charity evening in Kyiv was ZAKA Trustee Council Chairman Michael Mirilashvili, who had been elected First Vice President of the EAJC earlier that day at an EAJC Genereal Council session. This initiative was readily supported by EAJC President Alexander Mashkevich.
The charity evening in InterContinental gathered dozens of businessmen, rabbis, and social activists. Among the speakers were Head Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger, Ambassador of Israel in Ukraine Zina Kalai-Kleitman, Knesset Vice Speaker Alex Miller, EAJC President Alexander Mashevich, ZAKA Trustee Council Chairman Michael Mirilashvili, and ZAKA leader Rabbi Yehuda Meshi-Zahav. Among guests of the evening were All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress President Vadim Rabinovich, EAJC Vice Presidents Merab Elashvili, Eduard Greenshpun, and Boris Litovsky, as well as the Head Rabbis of Ukraine Moshe-Reuven Asman and Yakov-Dov Blaich, and the Head Rabbi of Kazakhstan Yeshaya Cohen.
Over a million dollars were collected during the evening to fund current ZAKA activity, as well as to buy modern medical equipment and transportation. The EAJC President was first to make his contribution to this noble affair, and others were quick to join in – EAJC Vice President Merab Elashvili, Executive Vice President Yuri Raskin, Congress Treasurer Fyodor Osinin, EAJC Presidential Representative in Insrael Yoni Beni-Dor, EAJC Director''s Council member Vera Vlasova. The largest sum, 520 thousand dollars, was donated by ZAKA Trustee Council Chairman, EAJC First Vice President Michael Mirilashvili.