Israeli Jewish Congress to hold inaugural event
09/12/2012 03:33
One of the main goals of the new group is to strengthen ties between Israel and the Diaspora, particularly in Europe.
The Israeli Jewish Congress logo Photo: Wikimedia Commons
The Israeli Jewish Congress – a new initiative – will hold its inaugural
conference in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
The project is the brainchild of
Vladimir Moshe Sloutsker, a businessman, politician and Jewish community
activist from Russia who immigrated to Israel last year.
According to
Sloutsker, who served as the chairman of the Russian Jewish Congress and the
deputy chairman of the European Jewish Congress, one of the main goals of the
new group is to strengthen ties between Israel and the Diaspora, particularly in
Europe.
Earlier this year he told The Jerusalem Post that the European
community “is thirsty for Israeli contact” which, he said, it currently
lacks.
Some existing Jewish groups have nevertheless expressed
reservations about the need for another organization such as the
IJC.
Among other issues the IJC seeks to address is Holocaust denial in
Europe, the advancement of solidarity between Diaspora Jews and Israel and the
“strengthening of Israel’s Jewish and democratic foundations.”
The
conference will be held at the David Citadel hotel in Jerusalem and will include
various panel discussions on issues facing Israel and the Diaspora.