The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Deputy Secretary General, EAJC Representative in Israel Haim Ben Yakov has taken part in the XIII meeting of the World Congress of Bukharan Jews.

The World Congress of Bukharan Jews convened in Tel-Aviv, and gathered approximately 2000 representatives of the Bukharan Jewish community from Israel, Russia, Germany, Austria, and other countries. Guests of honor at the opening ceremony were President Shimon Peres and ministers Avigdor Lieberman, Eli Yishai, and Gideon Sa'ar.

In his speech at the opening ceremony, President Shimon Peres noted the huge contribution that Bukharan Jews have made into the creation of the Jewish state. “The first Bukharan Jews had come to Israel as early as the XIX century. Their love towards the Jews and the state is an example of self-sacrifice for all Jews,” the President of Israel stressed.

Approximately 350 thousand Bukharan Jews live in the world today. Over half of them live in Israel, mostly in Jerusalem, Or Yehuda, and Lod. The community that is second in size resides in New York. 500 communities of Bukharan Jews from different countries participate in the World Congress of Bukharan Jews. The main priorities of the WCBJ are religious education, the creation of synagogues and coordination of their activities, social support of community members, the development of culture. The World Congress of Bukharan Jews is headed by businessman and philanthropist Lev Levayev.

Haim Ben Yakov held a number of working meetings during this convention. Currently the EAJC is working out a plan for cooperation with the Bukharan Jewish community.