The Presidium of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress heartily congratulates JAFI Chairman Natan Sharansky on his 65th anniversary!

Natan Sharansky is one of the exalted few to become a living legend. In the USSR he was an adamant defender of human rights, imprisoned for his Sionist activity, a political prisoner. Then, in Israel, he was a successful politician, a minister in several governments, the long-standing head of JAFI. At the same time, he was always a writer and a social commentator. All in all, the amount of life experience and work done by Natan Sharansky would have been enough for several full and rich lifetimes.

The Jewish tradition believes that the Almighty gifts the worthy with 120 years of life, which means that Sharansky has only barely passed the halfway point of what has been predestined for him. And Sharansky proves tradition right through the youth inherent to his body and soul, unquenchable energy, and the brightness of his mind, honed by the wisdom he has gathered over the years.

Under Sharansky's leadership, the Jewish Agency had become a steady and trustworthy partner of the EAJC in many things, and the JAFI Chairman itself has always shown a changeless favor towards our Congress, and participated in those of our events that have taken place in Israel.

We wish Natan Sharansky good health and more new achievements for the good of the Jewish people and the Jewish state.