The Executive Committee of the European Jewish Congress held its first meeting of the new term following the 2020 General Assembly. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting took place online via Zoom.
In his opening remarks, EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor welcomed the members of the Executive committee, in particular the newly-elected members: Boris Lozhkin (Jewish Confederation of Ukraine), Faina Kukliansky (Lithuanian Jewish Community), Albert Aflalo (Jewish Community of Luxembourg), Ralph Friedlander from Switzerland (Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities).
The Executive Committee confirmed Raya Kalenova as EJC Executive Vice-President and CEO and appointed Rabbi Ya’akov Bleich as EJC Treasurer for a new term.
In addition, the following members of the Executive Committee were appointed to serve as Vice-Presidents of the EJC: Francis Kalifat (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France), Josef Schuster (Central Council of Jews in Germany), Boris Lozhkin (Jewish Confederation of Ukraine), Georgy Golukhov (Federal Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of the Russian Federation), Marie van der Zyl (Board of Deputies of British Jews – Chair of the EJC Council), Dr. Ariel Muzicant (Jewish Community of Vienna), Yohan Benizri (Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organizations), and András Heisler (Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary).
The Executive Committee also discussed the European Council Declaration of 2 December 2020 on mainstreaming the fight against antisemitism across policy areas, as well as initiatives to promote the adoption of the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and national strategies on combatting antisemitism.
