Society

Event dedicated to the European Days of Jewish Culture held in Tbilisi by Israeli House

The event dedicated to the European Days of Jewish Culture was held in the big hall of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia. The event organized by "Israeli House", in cooperation with AEPJ – European Association of Jewish Culture and Heritage Preservation, was attended by Mr. Hilik Bar, the Deputy Speaker of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) and the Head of Israel-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mrs. Tamar Chugoshvili, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Georgian Parliament and the Head of Georgia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. Giorgi Chogovadze, Head of National Tourism Administration of Georgia, Mr. Shabtai Tsur, Ambassador of Israel to Georgia, Mr. Christian Urse, Head of Council of Europe Office in Georgia.
The event was led by Mr. Itsik Moshe, Chairman of "Israeli House".

Various events are dedicated to the Days of Jewish Culture in European countries on September 5, annually. These days were celebrated in Georgia for the second time.

In his speech, Itsik Moshe noted that the Jewish people have one homeland - Israel. "The first and the second temples were destroyed and the Jews were forced to leave their homeland. In most countries they were told that their place was not there and they had to return to Israel. 2000 years later we were allowed to return our country, start living on our own land, where some neighbors tell us again that our place is not in Israel" – declared Itsik Moshe and added that the heritage created in the period of being in the Diaspora must be used by the countries for relations with Israel. As for the Jews who are temporarily in the Diaspora, now they have no alterative other than Hasbara – appropriate representation and support of Israel.

According to Itsik Moshe, this year Georgia became a member state of the EU cultural route. Upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, "Israeli House" leads the European Route of the Jewish Heritage in Georgia. The goal of "Israeli House" is to introduce Georgia to Israeli residents and the World Jewry as a new destination.

Mr. Hilik Bar, the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset also delivered a speech. According to his speech, a new triangle of relations between Israel, Georgia and European Council was created by the European Route of the Jewish Heritage in Georgia, which is a good instrument of trilateral cooperation. Israel pays particular attention to relations with Georgia. By this route, the World Jewry becomes familiarized with Georgia as well. For its part the World Jewry will contribute to the enhancement of relations. At the event, speeches were delivered by Mrs. Tamar Chugoshvili, the First Deputy Chairperson of the Georgian Parliament, Mr. Giorgi Chogovadze, Head of National Tourism Administration of Georgia, Mr. Shabtai Tsur, Ambassador of Israel to Georgia and Mr. Christian Urse, Head of Council of Europe Office in Georgia.

Itsik Moshe represented two initiatives of Sarah Foundation operating in Israel, which will be implemented in cooperation with “Israeli House”:
1. Opening a permanent corner of Hebrew books at the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia

2. Financing the visit of successful students of the academic course "Holocaust and Genocide in the Visegrad Countries" of the University of Georgia to Yad Vashem Memorial Museum of Jerusalem.