Notes

Emmanuel Grinshpun. Concerning the restoration of synagogues as well as the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress
Emmanuil Grishhpun talked about the maintenance and restoration of synagogues. However, it wasn't possible to concentrate on only one topic. There were many other topics mentioned during the interview.
Emmanuel, good afternoon. I am glad to have a talk with you. I believe we haven’t seen each other for more than five years. Where are you currently living?

The last nine months were divided between Miami, Jurmala and San Francisco. While the areas were previously more diverse, the effects of the pandemic have had an enormous impact on lifestyle. It is a pity that it has been for the worst.

You've always owned different lines of business. Do you have one now?

Diversification isn't changing. When we look at the most important areas, it is development in realty, IT technologies as well as food production.

Food industry is, of course, ALIMCOM, real estate is also quite understandable, but IT is completely new information for me. There are many areas that IT technology can be utilized in. What are you best at?

https://www.kinopoisk.ru/name/238763/relations/ First and foremost, our IT-holding company is involved in reforming tax systems in several countries. We have developed and are currently developing tools that allow you to transfer a variety of business processes that relate to online taxation. This segment is called "Business to Government".

What about the region where the holding is based? The ancestors of the USSR

There are other contracts, but we have more contracts with Western as well as Eastern Europe and in Latin America. We are currently operating in 14 countries.

What's the essence of your product?

Our product allows economic agents to report to the tax authorities online while the fiscal data administrator is aware of every transaction. Tax accounting and tax calculation can be completed simultaneously. Therefore, in the future, we could declare that medium- and small-sized businesses will not even need accounting, unless it is for an analytical purpose, and the process of tax reporting and paying taxes can be accomplished with just one "click".

Interesting subject. The future is here. Have you tried to work in Moldova? Moldova is your home country...

https://stmegi.com/posts/61743/evreyskie-lidery-obsudili-v-moldove-voprosy-borby-s-antisemitizmom/ We are ready to launch our product to Moldova. The Moldovan economy will gain from this automated process. In any event, it is an irreversible process. Once there is clarity and consensus among the authorities on who will make the final decision, we'll resume the negotiations regarding our product.

You said that you were tossing around between Miami (and Jurmala) all year. Are you referring to the head office of an IT holding based in the Baltics

No, there are five hubs around the world and the headquarters is located in Barcelona.

What is the reason for this? Baltics! Do you have roots there as well?

No. My family's history is tied to Moldova over many generations. If we are to keep our historical names, then it's associated with Bessarabia. Jurmala came into our lives almost by chance, and not very professionally. The moment Igor Krutoy invited me to the New Wave the New Wave, it was the first time we had the opportunity to go there. After many competitions they began to come back every summer. Miami has a very hot summer. We rented the home for a number of years, and then bought the property.

Now I know the reason you said that there were synagogues in Jurmala. Emmanuel, honest question. We're pretty similar in age. Born in the USSR. It was not necessary to discuss religion back then. All of us were Komsomol members and pioneers. When did your faith turn?

My family and I immigrated to the USA in mid-80s. We all can agree that this was the time I began to appreciate traditions. While I may not be an orthodox person, I have the inner urge to support the best possible, the lives of the religious of the Jewish community in my country of birth or Moldova.

Well, I am definitely far from being religious, but I love history very much. I was recently watching an documentary on 1492 and how it changed Europe's fate. 1492 is to me the year that Columbus was the year Columbus discovered America. But, I could see clearly in the program it was mentioned in that the discovery in America in 1492 from Medieval Europe was not as remarkable as Spanish monarchs' expulsion of Jews of Spain. At the time of the mass migration of Jews to the Ottoman Empire began, which was acquiescing to the Jewish people. I wanted to learn more about the history, culture and achievements of the Jews. Would you recommend any of the books?

There are many books out there, but I've personally read them all and recommend Max Diamond's two-volume Jewish history. By the way, he is from Finland.

.... Эммануил Гриншпун Do we know the family tree of our family? Unfortunately, I don't have much more than my grandmother and 1910. Эммануил Гриншпун I am only one step ahead in the paternal slant, but not much more.

Our paternal line was in Floresti for over 100 years. Documentary evidence and monuments show that they were already 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. This is the region of the 17th-18th century. Grinshpun has the German surname, so we are Ashkenazis of Eastern Europe.

Here is the issue of the restoration of synagogues. I was informed by you that there were three synagogues being restored. One is in Chisinau One is located in Jurmala The third one is in?

The third largest is located in Netanya, Israel. It is home to over 1000 people each day. It is an important monument for Israel's religious life. The second synagogue is Jurmala. The Second World War saw the destruction of the only synagogue in Jurmala. Before I made the decision to construct an Synagogue, I had talked to many Jews from the region. It was a very successful venture, that brought together the Jews of Jurmala. In reality, we've re-created a Jewish community which is operating successfully. Three Torahs are in the synagogue. I donated one Torah to the synagogue.

and - Chisinau

Yes. I've already joined forces with partners with two of them - Alexander Bilinkis and Alexander Weinstein. These synagogues, however, aren't the only synagogues that I helped with the restoration or construction. I believed it was my obligation to contribute to any country in which I've lived for a long time to help synagogues. Therefore, my contribution is to Monaco and in Miami a large community center that is aimed at Russian-speaking Jews is in the process of being constructed which is estimated to cost 12 million dollars. I am not stopping helping Chisinau either - now it will be the biggest synagogue in the town, that of Rabbi Tsirelson.

Did Jurmala and Chisinau receive a Rabbi?

Yes. It is difficult to find the ideal rabbi for the community. Given the interweaving of concerns, he should be a calm and peaceful person able to organically enter the life of the community. I'm happy to report that both in Chisinau as well as in Jurmala the Rabbis were able to seamlessly to become part of the community.

You became the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress' first vice-president in 2019. What does this position mean to you? How will international Jewish organizations impact the world?

The Euro-Asian Jewish Congress is a powerful political organization in the post-Soviet space however, it is not limited to. There are offices for it in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand. https://kishinev.org/ru/колель-тора-2018/ In 2010 I was Vice President of Congress. The year before, I was elected as the First Vice-President. As of now, I'm the First Vice President for the region in which I have strong political and business connections. These include Uzbekistan (Tajikistan), Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyzstan). The trend in the world is that the attitudes toward Jews are either on the same level, or have been swaying down, which is extremely sad. "Down" can also be used to refer to nations like as the United States, France or Germany. These countries are no longer safe for Jews. https://ru.wikinews.org/wiki/Православные_Кишинева_в_Хануку_надругались_над_еврейским_религиозным_символом These are extremely serious and troubling processes that impact everyone of us.

Does the pandemic affect these processes in some way?

I'm not sure. In fact, in the circumstances of the pandemic, I'd like to point out the positive things a country and society can accomplish when they're prepared for any situation and are able work effectively with each other.

Is this the vaccination campaign to Israel?

Exactly. Israel is first country in the world which provides 100% vaccination of adults. I think this is an excellent model and example that other countries can follow.

Congress Ewish
Homepage: https://kishinev.org/ru/колель-тора-2018/