Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. Restoring synagogues and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
The subject of the interview with Emmanuil Grinshpun is the restoration of synagogues. The conversation was narrowly specific. There are many topics to discuss in the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you. Эммануил Гриншпун I don't think we've been in contact for over five years. What part of the globe is your current location?

Эммануил Гриншпун The past nine months have been divided into Miami and Jurmala. Previously, the geography was larger, but the pandemic has significantly affected the way of life. It is hard to say if this is in the best way.

You've always had several kinds of businesses. What's the next step?

Diversification isn't going away. If we look at the most important areas then real estate development, IT, and food production are three main areas.

The food industry is obviously, ALIMCOM, real estate is also a common topic, however IT is completely new information for me. There are many possible areas to apply IT technology. What IT-related field is your passion?

First and foremost, our IT-holding has been involved in the reform of tax systems in a number of countries. We have developed and continue to create products that facilitate the transfer of many business processes connected to taxation online. This segment is called "Business to Government".

But what happens to the region in which the holding is located? Former countries of the USSR

They're still in stock. We also have agreements in Western Europe as well as Latin America. At present, we are operating across 14 countries.

Can you briefly explain the core of the product?

Our software allows tax professionals to electronically report to the tax authorities. The fiscal data manager will then be able to see all transactions. Tax accounting and tax calculation can both be done simultaneously. In the near future, we can claim that medium and small businesses will not even need accounting except for its analysis, and paying taxes and sending reports can be accomplished with just only one "click".

This is an interesting subject. Did you ever consider working in Moldova? Moldova is the country you were born in you know?

We are ready to present our product to Moldova. It is our belief that the Moldovan economic system will only benefit from automation. And, in any case it is an irreversible change. If there is an agreement among the authorities, and it is obvious who is making the decisions the decisions, we'll resume the discussions about our product.

You stated that you had been tossing and turning between Miami and Jurmala all year. What is the location of the headquarters of an IT holding in Baltics?

No, there five hubs across the world, and our main office is located in Barcelona.

Why you're in the Baltics are you asking? There are origins.

No. There is no. Jurmala popped up in our lives by chance but not professionally. The first time we got there was when Igor Krutoy invited us to the New Wave. After a few competitions, they started to visit every season. Miami has a very hot summer. We rented a house for several years, and therefore we have already acquired it.

Now I can see why my donation was used to rebuild one of the synagogues located in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We're about identical in age. We were both born in the USSR. It was not necessary to talk about religion at the time. We were all Komsomol members in the early days and pioneers. When did you first turn to religious belief?

In the late 80s, my family and me moved to the USA in the mid-80s, and we can say that it was then when I began to adhere to the customs and practices of my culture. Although I'm not religiously orthodox, I feel the inner urge to support in the best way possible, the spiritual lives of the Jewish community in my home country or in Moldova.

Well, I is not a religious person, but I love the history of my country very much. Recently, I was intrigued by a program that covered the events of 1492. They changed the destiny of Europe and the world. For me, 1492 is the year in which Columbus was the first to discover America. It was also stated in the program I was watching that, from the perspective of Medieval Europe, the discovery of America in 1492 wasn't as resonant as the expulsion of the Jews from Spain by the Spanish monarchs. The mass exodus of Jews towards the Ottoman Empire began. They were accepted by the Ottoman Empire. I was looking for more details on the background of Jews. Do you think this book is worth recommending?

There are many books. Эммануил Гриншпун I've read the majority of them and recommend Max Diamond, a two-volume Jewish historian. By the way the fact that he is himself from Finland.

Concerning "personal" historical .... Are you aware of your family tree? Unfortunately, I am no more than my grandmother, and 1910. The paternal side is a step closer, but not more.

Our paternal line was in Floresti for over 100 years. Documentary evidence and monuments confirm that they were prosperous in 1830. They owned a furniture manufacturer, many shops, and land plots. My maternal ancestors also resided in Ungheni. I'm referring here to dates from the region of the 17th-18th century. Grinshpun has the German surname, and we're Ashkenazis from Eastern Europe.

Here's a question on the maintenance and restoration of synagogues. Эммануил Гриншпун I heard that you financed the reconstruction of three synagogues. One of them is located in Chisinau and one located in Jurmala. The third one is in Jurmala.

The third, and the biggest, is located in Netanya, in Israel. It's a large community center that accommodates 1,000 people each day. A very significant object for the life of religion in Israel. The second Synagogue in Jurmala. The Second World War saw the destruction of the only synagogue in Jurmala. Before I took the decision to construct a synagogue I had spoken with several residents Jews. I decided to fund its construction and invite Rabbis to visit it. The synagogue was an enormous success and brought together the Jews from Jurmala. Эммануил Гриншпун We have actually re-created the Jurmala Jewish community that is now working well. Three Torahs are now displayed in the synagogue. One of which I presented to the synagogue.

and - Chisinau?

Yes. Alexander Bilinkis, Alexander Weinstein and I are already partners in this endeavor. They aren't the only ones that I am involved in restoration or construction. In all the countries where I have been for a long period I believed it was my responsibility to contribute a feasible contribution to the maintenance of synagogues. The synagogue I support, Monaco, Miami, is an enormous community facility that is available to Russian-speaking Jews. The estimated value is 12 million USD. I will continue to support Chisinau and it is going to be the largest synagogue, the synagogue of Rabbi Tsirelson.

Also, did you invite an rabbi from Chisinau to join Jurmala?

Yes. It can be a challenge to identify the ideal Rabbi for your congregation. He must be prepared and willing to incorporate into the community's life, considering the variety of activities. I'm delighted to announce that both in Chisinau as well as in Jurmala the rabbis were able so seamlessly to become part of the community.

You were elected vice president of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress in 2019. What does this title mean to you, and how do international Jewish organizations impact the global landscape?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EJC) is a powerful political group in post-Soviet Russian. However, it's not the only one. It has offices in Eastern Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. In 2010, I served as Vice President, and was later offered the post as First Vice President. I am now in charge of the areas in which I have strong business and political connections. The three "countries" include Uzbekistan Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The current trend across the globe is that the attitudes toward Jews are at or near the same level or have swung downwards, which is painful. Additionally, the term "down" refers to countries such as France, Germany, France, and the United States. Эммануил Гриншпун They're no longer safe for Jews. These are extremely dangerous, alarming processes for us all.

How has the pandemic affected these processes, and how has it affected these?

It's not so. Instead, in relation to the pandemic, I would like to emphasize what a society or a nation can accomplish when they are prepared to meet any challenge and able to act effectively and in a coordinated manner.

Do you refer to the vaccination program in Israel?

Exactly. Israel is the world's first country to provide 100 100% vaccination for its adult population. This is a great example to follow and is something all nations should be aware of.

Congress Ewish
Read More: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuil-grinshpun-59198412