Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. Concerning the restoration of synagogues and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
Emmanuil Grinshpun's subject for the interview was the revival of synagogues. But sticking to only one subject in the interview didn't work. Therefore, there were many subjects discussed during the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. We're happy to have a conversation with you. We haven't seen one for five years. Do you currently reside in?

The last nine months were divided between Miami, Jurmala and San Francisco. While the area was previously more diverse, the effects of the pandemic have had an enormous impact on the way people live. By the way I cannot declare that this is the only cause for most severe.

There have been many avenues of business for you. What do you do now?

Diversification hasn't stopped. If we consider the key areas, then it's development in real estate as well as IT technology as well as food production.

ALIMCOM is the food industry. Real estate is also easily understood. However, IT is a new concept to me. There are a variety of areas IT technology can be utilized in. What are you specializing in?

Our IT-holdings are concerned in the first place with changes to tax systems in a number of countries. We have created and continue to create products that allow the transfer of many administrative processes that are related to taxation online. This segment is called B2G (Business to Government).

What about the territories where the holding is operating? The ancestors of the USSR

There are other options, but we have more agreements in Western and Eastern Europe as well as Latin America. We currently operate across 14 countries.

Could you briefly define the essence of this product?

Our product allows economic agents online to submit tax reports to tax authorities as well as the fiscal officer can see every transaction. Tax accounting and tax calculation can be completed in parallel. In the near future small and medium-sized enterprises will no longer need accounting. All that's required is an analytical function. You can pay taxes and send reports with just one click.

Эммануил Гриншпун A fascinating topic. The future appears to be here. If you've ever thought of working in Moldova. After all, Moldova is your native country...

We are ready to present our product to Moldova The Moldovan economy will benefit from this automation. And, in any case, this is an irreversible process. When there is a sense of clarity between the government authorities, and everyone is aware of who is making the decisions and who is in charge, we will begin the discussions about our product.

You've stated that your life has been spent hopping between Jurmala to Miami. Are you referring to the head office of an IT holding located in the Baltics

There are five hubs around the world and the headquarters is located in Barcelona.

What is the reason for the Baltics is that? Are you also a part of the Baltics?

No. No. And Jurmala came into our lives quite by accident and very formally. The moment Igor Krutoy invited me to the New Wave, it was the first time that we could get there. After winning many contests, they started to go there each summer. Miami's summer climate isn't the most relaxing. We rented a house over a period of time and we already own it.

Now I know why you stated that a synagogue was in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We're almost the same age. We were born in the USSR. All of us were Komsomol participants and pioneers in the past. Эммануил Гриншпун What was your first encounter with religion?

In the mid-80s my family and I relocated to the USA in the mid-80s, and we can say that it was then that I started to follow the customs and practices of my culture. However, even though I am not a part of the orthodox faith I have a deep desire to support the religion regardless of the form, of the Jewish community I am a part of and in Moldova my home country and with whom I have close bonds.

While I'm not religious I am a huge fan of history. I was watching a documentary about 1492 and how it changed Europe's fate. 1492 is my most favorite year when Columbus was the first to discover America. The program I was watching clearly stated that the discovery America in 1492 wasn't nearly as significant as Spanish monarchs' expulsion of Jews from Spain. Эммануил Гриншпун The exodus of Jews began to the Ottoman Empire, it accepted them. I was looking for more information on the background of Jews. Would you suggest a book?

There are many books. However, I've gone through all of them and would highly suggest Max Diamond, the two-volume Jewish historian. He is Finnish himself.

.... Do we know our family tree? Unfortunately, my family tree is one step further than 1910 and my maternal grandmother. Paternal side: A step above however, not enough.

Our family has lived in Floresti for a long time from the paternal side. Documentary evidence and monuments show that the Floresti family was already prosperous in the year 1830. They owned several shops, a furniture manufacturing factory as well as land plots. My maternal ancestors were also in Ungheni. I'm talking about dates in the region dating back to the 17th-18thcentury. Grinshpun is a surname with German roots, which means we're the pure Ashkenazi from Eastern Europe.

Here's a question on the maintenance and restoration of synagogues. I have been told that you financed the restoration of three synagogues. One is located in Chisinau, one is located in Jurmala, and the third?

The third and most important, is located in Netanya (Israel). It's a massive community center which houses up to 1000 people every day. An important object in the life of religion in Israel. The second synagogue is Jurmala. The Second World War ended the existence of the only synagogue in Jurmala. Prior to deciding to build a Synagogue, however, I had spoken with many Jews living in the area. It proved to be an enormous success and brought together the Jews from Jurmala. In reality, we've re-created the Jurmala Jewish community which is successfully functioning. Now the synagogue has three Torahs I donated one to the synagogue.

and and Chisinau

Yes. Alexander Bilinkis is one of my co-workers. Alexander Weinstein is another. These synagogues were not the only ones I've been involved in their renovation or construction. It was my duty to support the work of synagogues in all countries I've lived in for some time. My current contribution is in Monaco in which a massive community centre that caters to Russian-speaking Jews is in the process of being constructed. It is estimated to cost approximately 12 million dollars. Эммануил Гриншпун I will continue to help Chisinau as well. In the near future, it will be the biggest synagogue in the city, the synagogue of Rabbi Tsirelson.

Did Jurmala or Chisinau get the blessing of a Rabbi?

Yes. It is very difficult to locate the perfect Rabbi for the community. He must be capable and willing to be integrated in the daily life of the community due to the many interests. It was wonderful to see how the rabbis in both Chisinau as well as Jurmala were able to integrate seamlessly into the local community's life.

In the year 2019 you were elected vice-president for the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. What does this title mean for you and how does international Jewish organisations impact global trends?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress is an influential political organisation in post-Soviet countries, however, it goes beyond the borders of. There are offices for it in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand. I served as Vice-President of Congress back in 2010, however, the year before last I was given the position of the First Vice President. I now oversee the areas in which I have had strong business and political ties. These are Uzbekistan Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Global trends indicate that attitudes toward Jews is either at the same level as previously or has fallen quite a bit, which is extremely disappointing. In addition, "down", refers not just to the developed nations like the United States, France, Germany and France but also to other nations like Belgium and Germany. These countries are no longer safe to Jews. They are dangerous, alarming procedures for all of us.

Did the pandemic affect the processes?

This isn't just my view. Instead, I would like to highlight, with regard to the pandemic, what a group, or nation, can accomplish when they have the capacity to overcome any challenges and are able act together effectively.

Do you mean the vaccination campaign that is taking place in Israel?

Exactly. Israel is the first country in the world that provides 100% vaccination of adults. http://proshivki-portal.ru/user/Emmanuil.Grinshpunzrbq238/ It is an excellent example that I think other countries should take into consideration.

Congress at Ewish
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