Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. Restoring synagogues and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
The topic of the interview with Emmanuil Grinshpun concerns the restoration of synagogues. But it was not possible to stay focused on just one subject. Therefore, there were many subjects discussed during the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. It was an honor to meet you. We haven't seen one other in five years. Which part of the world is your current location?

The past nine months were split between Miami (Miami) and Jurmala (Jurmala). Эммануил Гриншпун The boundaries of geography were larger in the past, but the pandemic affected people's lives in a significant way. It's not like it's only for the worse.

You've always had a variety of different business lines. Do you have one now?

Diversification hasn’t changed. If we consider the key areas, then it's real estate development, IT technology, and food manufacturing.

ALIMCOM understands the food industry and real estate is more easily comprehended. IT however, is completely new to me. There are a million applications for IT technology. What are your specialties?

Our IT-holding team is focused on reforming tax systems across several nations. We've developed and are working on a variety of products that help to transfer various business processes related to taxation online as well as in "real time". This is referred to as B2G (Business-to-Government).

What about the territories where the holding is operating? Former countries of the USSR

There are contracts in place. We do however have more contracts in Western Europe and Latin America. Presently, we have contracts in 14 nations.

Do we have a brief description of the basic idea or product?

Our software allows economic agents online to submit tax reports to tax authorities and the fiscal administrator can view each transaction. Tax calculation and tax accounting can be performed in parallel. In the future, small and medium-sized companies are not going to require accounting. All that's needed is an analytical task. It is possible to pay taxes and send reports with just one click.

This is an interesting subject. Do you wish to work in Moldova, or have you ever thought about it? Moldova is your home country...

We are ready to present our product to Moldova The Moldovan economy will benefit from such automation, and, in any case, this is a permanent process. Once there is a consensus and clarity with the authorities about who will make the final decision, we'll resume the discussions regarding our product.

You mentioned that you were tossing around between Miami (and Jurmala) all the time. The Baltics have a head office is an IT holding?

No, we have five hubs across the globe , and our main office is located in Barcelona.

The Baltics are not the only reason why? Do you have roots there too?

No. My family's history has been tied to Moldova over many generations. If we are to keep our historical names, then it is in Bessarabia. Jurmala came into our lives almost by chance and was not a very professional. It was Igor Krutoy who invited us to New Wave for the first time. They began visiting Miami every summer, after they had won several contests. The weather isn't always the most pleasant in Miami during the summer. We rented a home for a long time and now own it.

Now I understand why I was told that one of the synagogues that was restored with your donations is in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We're almost the same age. Born in the USSR. The Soviet Union was not a location to discuss religion. All of us were pioneers, and Komsomol participants. What was the moment when religion became your personal choice?

In the mid-80s, my family and I moved to the USA and it is possible to say that it was during this time when I began to adhere to customs and rituals. Although I do not adhere to orthodoxy, I feel a deep desire to be a part of the faith-based life of Jewish communities of my home country or Moldova. I was born in Moldova and have maintained friendships with them.

Although I am not religious I love the history of my country. Recently, I was fascinated by a show that detailed the events that occurred in 1492. They changed the fate of Europe and the world. 1492 was when Columbus discovered America. But, it was mentioned clearly in the programme that 1492 was the year that Columbus discovered America. The mass exodus of Jews to the Ottoman Empire began, which was acquiescing to the Jewish people. I was in search of more details on the background of Jews. Do you have a recommendation for a book that I could study?

There are numerous books available, but I have read and would recommend you a two-volume Jewish historian Max Diamond. And, by the way Max Diamond is from Finland.

.... Do we know our family tree? Unfortunately, I'm no further than my grandmother and 1910. Paternal side: A step above however, not enough.

Our family was a Floresti family for hundreds of years, as per the paternal lineage. Documentary evidence and monuments show that the Floresti family was already wealthy in the year 1830. They owned many shops, a furniture manufacturing factory and land plots. Ungheni was home to my maternal grandparents. We're talking about dates in the region between the 17th and 18th centuries. Grinshpun is a surname which has German roots is Ashkenazi pure Ashkenazi.

https://www.slideshare.net/emmanuilgrinshpun Now here is the question about the restoration of synagogues. I heard that you have funded three synagogues' restoration. One is located in Chisinau. Jurmala is the other one.

The third largest and biggest is in Netanya, Israel. It is a huge community center, where a thousand worshippers gather each day. It is a significant landmark in the life of religion in Israel. Jurmala's second synagogue. Эммануил Гриншпун When the Second World War, the only synagogue that was left in Jurmala was destroyed. Before I took the decision to construct a synagogue I had spoken with several residents Jews. I then made the decision to fund its construction and invite Rabbis to visit it. It was a successful project that brought all Jurmala's Jews from Jurmala. The project actually restored the Jewish community and it's operating well. The synagogue is now home to three Torahs. I donated one to it.

and - Chisinau

Yes. Here , I've joined forces with partners - Alexander Bilinkis and Alexander Weinstein. These synagogues, however, are not the only ones which I have contributed to the reconstruction or building. In every country I have lived in for a long while, it was my obligation and responsibility to make an impactful contribution to assistance or synagogues. Therefore, my contribution is to Monaco as well as in Miami a large community center for Russian-speaking Jews is in the process of being constructed with a value of around 12 million dollars. I will continue to help Chisinau as well. In the near future, it will be the largest synagogue in the town, the synagogue of Rabbi Tsirelson.

Did Jurmala bring you to Chisinau with a Rabbi?

Yes. Yes. Due to the intertwining of different concerns, he should be a very peaceful and non-conflict-prone person, who is able to seamlessly integrate into the life of the community. And it is a great thing that both the Jurmala and Chisinau Rabbis were able to be so seamlessly integrated into the community.

In the year 2019 you were named vice-president at the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. What does this means to you? And how can international Jewish organizations impact global trends worldwide?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress is a powerful political organization within the post-Soviet region and not just. It has offices across Eastern Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. In 2010, I served as the Vice-President of Congress. However, in the year prior, I was appointed First Vice president. Now I am responsible for the region in which I have strong political and economic ties. These countries include Uzbekistan Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan. Regarding the trends across the world, the barometer of attitudes toward Jews is either in the same place, or, which is very regrettable, has fallen. Furthermore, "down" - this refers to countries that are developed such like Belgium, Germany, France and even the United States. They are no longer secure for Jews. These are extremely important and frightening processes for all of us.

How has the pandemic affected these processes, by the way?

It is not what I believe. In connection to the pandemic I'd like to emphasize the way a society or a nation can be when they are ready for any challenge and are able and willing to cooperate.

Does this represent the vaccination campaign for Israel?

Exactly. Israel is the first country in the world to provide 100% vaccination for its adult population. https://www.consulate-info.com/consulate/31878/Kazakhstan-in-Miami I believe this is a good example and an example that other countries can follow.

Эммануил Гриншпун Congress for the Ewish
Homepage: https://www.consulate-info.com/consulate/31878/Kazakhstan-in-Miami