CER arranges EU meeting with Helsinki Jewish community to mark Finland’s EU presidency

Helsinki, Finland - 25-Aug-06

The EU’s senior official charged with relations with Europe’s religious groups has met with Finland’s Chief Rabbi to mark the country’s accession to the rotating presidency of the EU Council.

The meeting, organised by the Conference of European Rabbis Department of International Relations in Brussels, saw Dr Michael Weninger, senior advisor on religious affairs to EU Commission President Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, meet with Chief Rabbi Moshe Edelmann at the Central Synagogue in Helsinki.

Finland assumed the EU presidency on July 1, 2006 and will retain the role until the end of the year.

At the meeting, which came just after the synagogue celebrated its 100^th anniversary, Chief Rabbi Edelmann explained the history of Finnish Jews and the general situation of European Jews. Dr Weninger promised the support of the EU in any way it could be of help to European Jewish communities.

Also present at the meeting were Mr. Gideon Bolotowsky, President of the Helsinki Community, and Mr. Dan Kantor, Executive Director of the Jewish Representative Council of Finland.

Rabbi Edelmann described the meeting as "warm and friendly."

"Dr Weninger and indeed President Barroso have long shown a warm interest in Jewish affairs and maintain a close relationship with the Conference of European Rabbis. With Finland now in the spotlight as president of the EU, we are proud as Finnish Jews to offer our good offices to other communities," Rabbi Edelmann said.