Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. On the restoration of synagogues as well as the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
Emmanuil grinshpun was interviewed on the synagogues that were restored. However, limiting the interview to one subject for the interview did not work. Thus, there were a variety of questions in the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. It was an honor to have you meet. We haven't been in contact for 5 or more years. Where are you currently located?

The last nine months were split into Miami, Jurmala and San Francisco. The geography was much larger before, but the pandemic affected the living style. It is a pity that it's been more severe.

You've always been in the business of several lines of business. What about now?

Diversification has not gone from the world. If we examine the most important areas, it is development in realty, IT technologies as well as food production.

ALIMCOM has a strong presence in the real estate and food industries. Эммануил Гриншпун But, the IT field is a complete mystery to me. There are many possibilities for the use of IT technology. What is the area you are most interested in?

Our IT-holding team is principally concerned with changing tax systems in several nations. We have developed and are currently developing products that allow you to transfer various business processes related to online taxation. This type of segment is called B2G (Business to Government).

What are the locations in which the holding operates? The ancestors of the USSR

They also exist, but we have more contracts in Western as well as Eastern Europe and in Latin America. At present, we are operating across 14 countries.

Could you briefly define the core of the product?

Our solution allows tax agents to electronically report to the tax authorities. The fiscal data manager will then be able to see every transaction. The software also allows tax accounting and tax computation to be carried out simultaneously. Thus, in the future, small- and medium-sized enterprises won't require accounting, unless it is for an purpose of analysis. Tax payments and the sending of reports can be done with one "click".

An interesting topic Future is here. Have you tried to work in Moldova? It's true, Moldova is your native country...

We are ready to showcase our product in Moldova. This will be beneficial to the economic development of Moldova and it will be irreversible. When we are able to establish a clear understanding from the authorities on whom will make the final decisions, the product negotiations will resume.

You claimed that you have been tossing about all year long between Miami, Jurmala. The headquarters of an IT holding is located in the Baltics?

Five hubs are located around the world, with our head office in Barcelona.

The Baltics, why not? Do you have roots in the Baltics?

No. My family's history is tied to Moldova for many generations. If we keep our ancestral names, it's associated with Bessarabia. Jurmala was introduced to our lives in a very surprising and atypical manner. It was Igor Krutoy who invited us to New Wave for the first time. After a series of competitions, they began to visit each summer. In Miami the climate in summer is not the most pleasant. We rented the property for several years and then purchased the property.

Now I understand why I was informed by my donors that one of the renovated synagogues is located in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We're almost the same age. Born in the USSR. It was not necessary to talk about religion back then. We were all Komsomol members, pioneers. What was your first time you changed your religion?

In the mid-80s, my family and I relocated to the USA and it is possible to claim that it was at this time when I began to adhere to the customs and practices of my culture. While I'm not a part of the Christian faith that is orthodox I feel the need to participate in the best way I can and to be a part of the life of the Jewish communities of the countries I live in or in Moldova. That's where I was born and where I've maintained the most intimate ties.

You see, although I'm far from being religion-based, the subject of history is one I really love. Recently, I was captivated by a program that covered the events that occurred in 1492. They changed the course of Europe and the world. 1492 is for me the year Columbus discovered America. But it was clearly stated in the program I was watching from the viewpoint of Medieval Europe, the discovery of America in 1492 was not as significant as the expulsion of Jews from Spain by the Spanish monarchs. Эммануил Гриншпун The mass exodus of Jews towards the Ottoman Empire began. They accepted them. I was looking for more information on the historical background of Jews. Would you recommend a book that I could go through?

There are numerous books to choose from, but I have read and I advise you to pick up a book in two volumes Jewish historian Max Diamond. He's also from Finland.

In terms of "personal" personal history .... Do you know the genealogy of your family? Unfortunately, I am no more than my grandmother, and 1910. One step forward in the paternal lineage, but nothing more.

Our family was a Floresti family for several hundred of years, based on the paternal lineage. Their wealth was evident in the form of a furniture factory, numerous shops and land plots. Monuments and documentation confirm this assertion. My maternal ancestors also lived in Ungheni. These dates fall in the the 17th-18th centuries. Grinshpun is a surname derived from German roots. We are straight and pure Ashkenazis and straight from Eastern Europe.

Now, let's talk about the restoration of synagogues. I have been told that you funded the restoration of three synagogues. One of them is situated in Chisinau. Jurmala is the third.

The third, and the largest, is located in Netanya (Israel). It's a massive community center which houses up to 1,000 people each day. It is an important milestone in the Israeli religious history. The second synagogue, Jurmala. It was the time when the Second World War began and the Jurmala synagogue was the last to be destroyed. Before I took the decision to construct a synagogue I had spoken with several residents Jews. I decided to finance its construction and invite Rabbis to visit it. It was a great project that brought all Jurmala's Jews from Jurmala. In reality, we rebuilt the Jewish community and it is now operating well. Эммануил Гриншпун The synagogue now has three Torahs. I also gave one of them to it.

and Chisinau

Yes. Alexander Bilinkis and Alexander Weinstein have been my partners. Эммануил Гриншпун But these three synagogues do not represent the only ones in which I participated in the reconstruction or building. In all the countries in which I have been for a considerable period of time I felt it was my obligation to make an appropriate contribution to the support of synagogues. The synagogue I support, Monaco, Miami, is an enormous community facility that is available to Russian-speaking Jews. The estimated value is around 12 million dollars. Chisinau is my absolute favorite city. The synagogue of Rabbi Tsirelson will soon be the largest.

In addition to Jurmala, did you invite an rabbi to Chisinau?

Yes. It is difficult to find the perfect rabbi within a community. Because of the numerous interests in the community, the rabbi needs to be diplomatic and non-conflictual, able organically to enter the lives of the community. I am very happy that both in Chisinau and Jurmala the rabbis could be so seamlessly integrated into the life of the community.

In the year 2019, you became the first vice-president of Euro-Asian Jewish Congress. What is this title imply to you and how will international Jewish organisations impact the world?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress, a powerful organization in the post-Soviet zone It is more than an organization for political purposes. It has offices in Eastern Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Australia. I was Vice-President of Congress back in 2010, but the year before I was offered the post as First Vice President. This time, I'm responsible for the region with which I have had historically strong relations with both the political and business worlds - these are the "countries", Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan. The world's trends show that attitudes towards Jews is either still in the same place as previously or has fallen, which is very disappointing. Эммануил Гриншпун "Down" is also used to describe countries such the United States, France or Germany. These countries are no longer safe for Jews. These are very serious and disturbing events that affect all of us.

Did the pandemic affect these processes?

It is not what I believe. Эммануил Гриншпун In the situation of the pandemic, I'd like to emphasize the positive things a country and society can accomplish when they're prepared for any situation and are able work effectively together.

Do you mean the vaccination program in Israel?

Exactly. Israel is the only nation that offers the complete vaccination of its adult population. I think this is a good example and an instance that other countries can learn from.

Congress of the ewish
Website: https://infomarket.md/ru/banks/emmanuil_grinshpun_poprosil_u_natsbanka_moldovyi_razresheniya_na_pokupku_suschestvennoy_doli_aktsiy_EuroCreditBank-a_prevyishayuschey_50