Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Deputy Secretary General Haim Ben Yakov has participated in the anniversary celebrations dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the date on which Birobijan, the capital of the Russian Jewish Autonomous Oblast (JAO), received city status and the 55th anniversary of the Israeli city of Nazareth-Illit.

The celebration took place in Nazareth-Illit. Many residents of this city hail from the JAO, and thus events connected to important dates in its history have been held here at various times.

This year the celebration, which has gathered former Birobijanians from all over Israel, was visited by Mayor of Nazareth-Illit Shimon Gafsu, Consul General of Russia in Haifa Igor Popov, head of the representative branch of Rossotrudnichestvo in Israel Aleksand Kryukov, Chairman of the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriot Organizations Mikhail Raif.

The guest of honor of the celebrations was Birobijan Mayor Andrey Parkhomenko. In hs speech, he spoke about the development of the city and especially noted the way the leaders of the oblast and city protect and support the Jewish cultural and historic heritage in Birobijan.