Ukraine is one of the cradles of Jewish civilization and now plays an important role in the contemporary Jewish world, President of Israel Reuven Rivlin noted in his address to the participants of the Kyiv Jewish Forum 2020.
Rivlin sent his greetings to the Kyiv Jewish Forum, calling it an important forum for debates and discussions of the challenges facing the global Jewish community, and thanked the organizers for ensuring that the conference was held despite the limitations due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the President of Israel noted, the Jewish community is facing an alarming rise in anti-Semitism, hatred and discrimination, some of these challenges are exacerbated by the coronavirus crisis.
“At the beginning of this year, I was proud to host events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Some fifty leaders from around the world stood together in Jerusalem in remembrance of the Holocaust and its victims and underlined our shared commitment to fighting anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia in all its forms, wherever it rises its ugly head around out world,” Rivlin stressed.
According to him, the world community must be unanimous in its opinion on zero tolerance to racism or xenophobia in any form and anywhere.
“Friends, it's good to know that we are not alone. The issues you are discussing are not only a problem for the Jewish people. These are battles that we must face and win together. “The conference speakers, including leading political, diplomatic, religious and communal leaders from Israel, Ukraine and around the world, indicate that you are ready for action, not just words,” Reuven Rivlin said in his message.
Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in his speech at the opening of the Kyiv Jewish Forum 2020, noted the project of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine called “The Righteous People of My City”, which was initiated by the JCU President Boris Lozhkin.
“This project is dedicated to the memory of the Ukrainians who risked their own lives to save Jews during World War II. They are a role model for all subsequent generations,” the president said.
More than 2,600 Ukrainians have been included in the Yad Vashem Memorial’s list of the Righteous Among the Nations, which names the people who risked their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust during the war. As reported, the project of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine “The Righteous People of My City” continues to expand its geography. Dozens of streets in different cities and villages have already been named after the Righteous Among the Nations.