Russian, Austrian public, religious figures to discuss situation of European Jews
MOSCOW. Feb 20 (Interfax) - Russian and Austrian Jews will discuss their future in Europe at a gala dinner in Vienna on Friday evening.
The Shabbat meeting will start from a prayer and candle-lighting at a central synagogue in the Austrian capital, and proceed with the dinner at a nearby Kosher restaurant, a spokesperson for the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC), which organizes the event, told Interfax on Friday.
"Vienna played a huge role in the lives of the European Jewry. Vienna's Jewish community experienced the pogroms of the Middle Ages, and the unprecedented flourishing in the 19th century and first three decades of the 20th century, and the Holocaust. This year marks the 70th anniversary since the victory over fascist Germany, but the questions of anti-Semitism, the questions of Jews' survival in Europe are still relevant," RJC President Yury Kannera said, according to the spokesperson.
The discussion will involve Kanner, Austrian Ambassador to Russia Margot Klestil, President of the Conference of European Rabbis and Moscow's chief rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, diplomats, Russian and European business people, Russian and Austrian religious and public figures.