Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. Restoring synagogues and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
Emmanuil Grinshpun's theme during the interview was restoration of synagogues. The discussion was not sufficiently focused. There are many topics to discuss in the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. Thanks for allowing me to talk with you. We've not seen each others in at least 5 or more years. What are your current residences?

The nine months that have gone by between Miami and Jurmala were divided. While the areas were previously more diverse, the consequences of the epidemic have had an enormous impact on the way people live. And I'm not saying that it's only for the worse.

There have been many lines of business for you. What's the situation today?

Diversification will not go away. If we look at the most crucial areas, then real estate development, IT and food production are three most important areas.

ALIMCOM's food industry is ALIMCOM. Real estate may be understood, but it's completely new to me. There are millions of applications of IT technology. What are you the best at?

Our IT-holdings are concerned first and foremost with reforms to tax systems across a variety of countries. We have created or are developing a range products that aid with the transfer of number of business processes that are related to taxation, both online and "real-time". This is referred to as B2G (Business-to-Government).

What are the locations in which the holding operates? The former USSR countries

They exist. We have more agreements in Western, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Our current operations are across 14 countries.

Could you briefly define the basic idea behind this product?

Our product lets economic operators report online to the tax authorities. Fiscal data operator also is aware of each transaction. Tax accounting and tax calculation can be performed simultaneously. In the future, it is possible to say that mid-sized and small-sized businesses do not require accounting.

Эммануил Гриншпун It's an interesting topic. Эммануил Гриншпун The future is now. Do you wish to work in Moldova or have you ever thought about it? Moldova is your country of birth isn't it?

We are ready to present the 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. When we are able to establish a clear understanding from the authorities on who will make the decisions and when, negotiations on the product will resume.

You've said that you've been hopping around all year between Miami and Jurmala. The Baltics headquarters is an IT holding?

No, we have five hubs around the globe and a headquarters in Barcelona.

Эммануил Гриншпун Why not the Baltics? Are you also rooted there?

No. There is no. And Jurmala appeared in our lives in a way that was completely unplanned and in a very professional manner. We were invited to attend the New Wave by Igor Krutoy, and that was our first experience with Jurmala. The New Wave began to travel to Miami each summer after winning several competitions. The weather isn't the best in Miami during the summertime. We rented a property over a period of time and we already own it.

Эммануил Гриншпун Now I know the reason I was told that one of the synagogues rebuilt thanks to your contributions is located in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We are almost of the same age. We were all born in the USSR. There was no need to discuss religion back then. We were all Komsomol members at the time , and were pioneers. What was the first time you came in contact with religion?

My family and I emigrated to the USA in mid-80s. We all can agree that that was when I began to appreciate customs. Although I do not adhere to orthodoxy I have a strong need to help the religion of the Jewish communities that I have in my home country or Moldova. I was born in Moldova and have continued friendships with the Jewish communities in Moldova.

While I'm not religious I love history tremendously. Recently, I watched a program about events in 1492 which changed the destiny of the world and Europe. 1492 was the year that Columbus discovered America. The show I was watching stated clearly that the discovery America in 1492 was not as significant as the Spanish monarchs' expulsion of Jews from Spain. As the exodus of Jews began to the Ottoman Empire, it accepted the Jews. I am interested in finding out more about the history and culture of the Jews. Would you recommend a book?

There are a lot of books. But I've read all of them and would highly recommend Max Diamond, the two-volume Jewish historian. He is also from Finland.

What is your "personal" story ? Unfortunately I'm as far as my mother and 1910. Эммануил Гриншпун From the paternal perspective, a step forward, but not more.

Our paternal line lived in Floresti for over 100 years. Documentary evidence and monuments confirm that they were prosperous in the year 1830. They owned a furniture factory along with numerous shops, as well as land plots. Ungheni was also the residence of my maternal ancestors. These dates are from the region of the 17th and 18th centuries. Grinshpun is a surname with German roots, so we're pure Ashkenazi from Eastern Europe.

https://stmegi.com/posts/61743/evreyskie-lidery-obsudili-v-moldove-voprosy-borby-s-antisemitizmom/ Now here is the question regarding the restoration of synagogues. I heard that you had funded the reconstruction of three synagogues. One is in Chisinau One is in Jurmala; and the third is?

The third and largest, is in Netanya (Israel). Netanya is a large community center, where up to 1,000 people pray each day. It is a significant landmark in the history of Israel's religion. The second synagogue, Jurmala. The Second World War began and the Jurmala synagogue was among the last one to be destroyed. Prior to making the decision to build a synagogue I had spoken with a lot of local Jews. I then made the decision to build it and invite Rabbis to visit the synagogue. It was an excellent success and also brought together all the Jews from Jurmala. In fact, we have created an existing Jewish community that is now successfully functioning. The synagogue now has three Torahs. I also gave one of them to it.

And - Chisinau?

Yes. Alexander Bilinkis and Alexander Weinstein were my collaborators. However, these synagogues are not the only ones that I have been involved in renovation or construction. I believed that it was my obligation to contribute to the support for synagogues in the countries I have lived for a long duration. My contribution to Monaco, Miami, is a huge community center for Russian-speaking Jews. Its estimated amount is 12 million USD. I will continue to support Chisinau - it will now be the largest synagoguein the world, the synagogue of Rabbi Tsirelson.

Did Jurmala bring you to Chisinau with Rabbi?

Yes. It's not simple to choose the right person to manage the community. Because of the interconnectedness of his interests, he needs to be non-conflict-free and diplomatic and able to easily join the community. I'm delighted to announce that both in Chisinau and Jurmala the Rabbis were able to seamlessly to become part of the community.

You were elected the first vice-president in 2019 of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. What does this role mean to you? How can international Jewish organisations influence global trends worldwide?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, a powerful organization in the post-Soviet zone, is not only a political force. It has offices in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand. In 2010 I was Vice-President of Congress. However, in the year prior to that, I was elevated to First Vice President. I now have responsibility for the areas in which I have strong political and business ties. The three "countries" include Uzbekistan Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. Trends in the world show that the barometer of attitudes toward Jews is either at the same level as previously or has declined and is very depressing. The word "down" refers to nations like France, Germany, France, and the United States. They are not safe anymore to Jews. These are very serious, worrying process for us all.

Are these processes affected by the pandemic?

It's not my opinion. In connection to the pandemic however, I'd rather emphasize the way a society or a nation could be when they're prepared for any challenge and are able and willing to cooperate.

Эммануил Гриншпун Do you mean the Israeli vaccination campaign?

Exactly. Israel is the first country worldwide to offer 100% vaccination of its population of adults. I think this is an important example and lesson that other countries could learn from.

Ewish Congress
My Website: https://stmegi.com/posts/61743/evreyskie-lidery-obsudili-v-moldove-voprosy-borby-s-antisemitizmom/