Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. Restoring synagogues and the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
Emmanuil Grinshpun's topic during the interview was the restoration of synagogues. However, it wasn't possible to focus on only one issue. There are many topics to discuss in the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. We're glad to chat with you. We've not seen each others for at least five or more years. Which part of the world is it that you are currently in?

The last nine months are divided between Miami and Jurmala. While the geographical area was larger in the past but the pandemic has had a a profound impact on the way that people live. In addition, I can not say that only for the most severe.

You have always had many different business lines. Do you feel the same now?

Diversification hasn't stopped. Эммануил Гриншпун If we look at the most important areas the development of real estate, IT, and food production are three most important areas.

ALIMCOM has a strong presence in the food and real estate industries. However, IT is a complete mystery to me. There are a myriad of fields that IT technology is utilized. What are your specialties?

Our IT-holding team is first and foremost occupied with the reform of tax systems across a variety of countries. We've designed and are continuing to develop a variety of products that can be used to transfer business processes that relate to taxation online. Эммануил Гриншпун This is known as B2G (Business to Government).

But what about the region in which the holding is located? The USSR's former countries

They're still in stock. We also have agreements for Western Europe as well as Latin America. We are currently present in 14 countries.

Can we briefly define the product's essence?

http://www.heromachine.com/forums/users/emmanuil-grinshpunnsrm568/ Our solution allows economic agents to report online to tax authorities, and the fiscal data operator sees every transaction. Tax accounting and tax calculation can be completed simultaneously. Therefore, we can predict that small and medium-sized businesses will not require accounting in the future. Other than its analytical purpose accounting for taxes, and sending reports are all done with just one "click".

A fascinating subject. The future is already here. You have ever considered working in Moldova. Moldova is your home country in the end.

We are now ready to introduce the product in Moldova The Moldovan economy will benefit from this automation. And, in any case, this is a permanent process. We will restart negotiations regarding our product when we receive confirmation from the authorities.

You said that you'd been tossing around between Miami and Jurmala throughout the year. The Baltics' head office to an IT holding?

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

Then why the Baltics? Are you also from there?

No. Эммануил Гриншпун My family's history over many generations is linked to Moldova or If we stick to historical names, then with Bessarabia. Jurmala was a chance encounter that came about completely by chance. We were invited to the New Wave by Igor Krutoy, and that was our first experience with Jurmala. The New Wave began to travel to Miami every summer after winning several competitions. The weather isn't the best in Miami in the summer. We rented a house for a long time and now own it.

Now I know why I was told by my donors that one of the restored synagogues is located in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We're almost the same age. We were born in the USSR. It was not necessary to discuss religion at the time. All of us were Komsomol members as well as pioneers. When did you turn to religious belief?

In the middle of the 80s My family and I moved to the USA. It was in the USA that I became aware of traditions. While I'm not part of the orthodox religion of Christianity I am still adamant about the need to be a part of as best I can as I can, the religion of the Jewish community of the countries I reside in or in Moldova. That's where I came from and which I have continued to share the most close connections with.

Although I'm not a religious person I am a huge fan of history. Recently, I was intrigued by a documentary that covered the events that occurred in 1492. They changed the course of Europe and the world. 1492 was when Columbus discovered America. However, I was able to see in the programme that the program mentioned the discovery in America in 1492 by Medieval Europe was not as striking as the Spanish monarchs expulsion of Jews from Spain. When the exodus of Jews began to the Ottoman Empire, it accepted the Jews. This is where I was looking for details about the history of Jews as a whole. Would you recommend any book?

There are a lot of books. However, I've completed all of them, and would highly recommend Max Diamond, the two-volume Jewish historian. By the way the fact that he is himself from Finland.

.... Do you or your family members have an "personal" or historical backstory? My family tree is only one step beyond 1910 and my grandmother. From the paternal perspective, a step higher, but nothing more.

Our family has been in Floresti for many hundred years on the paternal side. There is documentary evidence and monuments that indicate that by 1830, they were very wealthy with a furniture factory, several shops, and land plots. Ungheni was also the residence of my maternal lineage. It is the region that was in the 17th-18th-century. Grinshpun is a surname having German roots, and we're the pure Ashkenazi of Eastern Europe.

Let's talk about the restoration of synagogues. I was informed by you that there were three synagogues being restored. One is located in Chisinau One is located in Jurmala The third is?

The third one, and the largest, is Netanya, in Israel. It is home to over 1,000 people who attend prayer every day. An important object in the religious life of Israel. Jurmala's second synagogue. The Second World War saw the destruction of the only synagogue in Jurmala. Эммануил Гриншпун Before I made the decision to build a synagogue , I'd spoken with several residents Jews. I then decided to finance its construction and invite Rabbis to visit the synagogue. It was a very successful project, which united the Jews of Jurmala. We even re-established the Jewish Community and it's now running smoothly. Now the synagogue has three Torahs I also donated one of them to the synagogue.

and - Chisinau?

Yes. Here , I've worked with two of my friends - Alexander Bilinkis and Alexander Weinstein. They aren't the only ones I have been involved with in restoration or construction. It was my responsibility to help in the support of synagogues across the world in which I have lived for a while. So, my contribution is to Monaco as well as in Miami the largest community center for Russian-speaking Jews is currently being built, worth about 12 million dollars. I will continue to help Chisinau and now it is the biggest synagogue in the city. It is that of Rabbi Tsirelson.

Did Jurmala or Chisinau get a Rabbi?

Yes. It is very difficult to find the right Rabbi for the community. Because of the interconnectedness of his interests, he needs to be diplomatic and non-conflict, able to naturally enter the community. It was a joy to see that the rabbis in both Chisinau as well as Jurmala were able to integrate so seamlessly into the community's activities.

You were named the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress' first vice-president in 2019. What does this position you think it means to you? How do international Jewish organisations influence the global landscape?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress has been a prominent political organization in post-Soviet European countries, but it's not the only one. There are offices for it in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand. In 2010, I was Vice-President of Congress. However, in the year prior to my promotion, I was elevated to First Vice-President. In the present, I am accountable to the region where I have strong political and economic relations. These countries are Uzbekistan Tajikistan Kyrgyzstan. If you examine global trends in the world, the barometer for attitudes towards Jews has either remained unchanged or decreased in a very negative way, which is incredibly regrettable. Furthermore, "down" - this refers to such developed countries as Belgium, Germany, France and even the United States. They're no longer secure for Jews. These are very dangerous and alarming process for all of us.

Do you think the pandemic is affecting these processes in some way?

It is not what I am claiming to believe. In fact, in the situation of the pandemic, I'd like to point out what a society and country can accomplish when they're prepared to face any challenge, and are able work effectively with each other.

Does this represent the vaccination campaign for Israel?

Exactly. Israel is the only country in the world to offer 100% vaccination to its adult population. This is an example I think other countries ought to take note of.

Congress at Ewish
Website: https://git.sicom.gov.co/emmanuil-grinshpunodlf378