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World Jewish News
Yuriy Kanner Becomes President-Elect of the Russian Jewish Congress
18.05.2009
Businessman and social activist Yuriy Kanner has become the President Elect of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJK).
Y. Kanner's candidature was recommended to the Presidium by the decision of the Bureau of the RJC Presidium in March 2009. For the past two months Mr. Kanner served as Acting President of the Russian Jewish Congress.
In his speech after the election, Yuriy Kanner reported on the new goals and challenges facing the organization.
"The mission of Russian Jewish Congress is to help build a pluralistic Jewish community in Russia that is proud of its past, stands firm on Russian soil, and turns its face to Jerusalem," said the new Head of the Congress.
According to Kanner, the RJC finds it essential to develop the programs that would attract new people to community life. One of the main objectives of the Congress, he believes, is the formation of self-governed and self-funded Jewish communities throughout the country.
Yuriy Kanner became the sixth president of the Russian Jewish Congress since 1996, when this Organization was established.
The former president of the organization, Vyacheslav Kantor, who announced his resignation in February this year because of the need to focus on activities as the Head of the European Jewish Congress, was elected Chairman of the RJC Presidium.
In addition, the Presidium approved of the nominations of new Vice-Presidents of the Russian Jewish Congress. They are Marianne Belchanskaya (Vice President for Development), Manahim Manahimov (relations with the communities of Mountain Jews), Mikhail Simonov (for creation of a Jewish national identity), Yakov Soskin (for relations with religious communities and organizations), Yakov Tipograph (for regional relations with the Jewish communities), and Alexander Chudnovsky (for work with charitable organizations).
As the RJC new executive vice president was approved Velvl (Vladimir) Chernin - a journalist and writer, author of several books, numerous scientific and literary publications.
Reference
Kanner Yuriy Isaakovich
Born on May 20, 1955 in Zhytomyr oblast (Ukraine).
In 1976 he graduated from the Saratov Institute of Economics. PhD in economics.
Vice-Chairman of the Governing Council of the European Jewish Fund (EJF). Head of the Board of Trustees of the Moscow Jewish Religious Community (MJRC), which manages the Big Choral Synagogue in Moscow.
Has been actively involved in several charitable and memorial projects and programs, is the director of "Babiy Yars of Russia" project, which conducts the study of the mass graves of Jews, murdered by the Nazis during the Great Patriotic War.
Married, father of three children.
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