The 80th anniversary of the Jewish Autonomous Region of Russia were held in Birobidzan with EAJC support. The many exuberant performances in Birobidzhan’s venues created a colorful festival program, which hosted delegations from many countries, including Israel, Chinea, and the USA, as well as leaders of leading Russian and international Jewish NGOs, including the Director General of the Federal Jewish National Cultural Autonomy (FJNCA) Evgeniya Mikhaleva.

Guests of honor included Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Israel to the Russian Federation Dorit Golender, member of the RF Presidium on National Policy Vladimir Zorin, and EAJC Secretary General, professor Michael Chlenov. JAR Governor Alexander Vinnikov presented the EAJC Secretary General with a letter of thanks, in which he expressed his hope for further fruitful cooperation with the EAJC.

Vladimir Zorin and Michael Chlenov were unanimous in their meetins with the JAR leaders, stressing the unique character of the region, which has practically no problems with migration and inter-ethnic relations, unlike other regions of the Russian Federation. They believe Birobidzhan to be an exemplary region in this respect.

Michael Chlenov met with the leaders of Jewish communities of Birobidzhan during his visit to the region and discussed further perspectives for cooperation between the Far Eastern Jewish communities and the EAJC and the FJNCA. One of the main questions on the agenda was the state of small communities of the region, which have grown weaker organization-wise in recent years.

“It seems to be prudent to create an Association of Far Eastern and Pacific Jewish Communities to facilitate mutual support. The form and status this would take needs to be defined soon. The Jewish institutes of the JAR, which are under the aegist of the EAJC, can provide an appropriate conference venue,” Michael Chlenov said to mass media representatives.