The Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) issued a Statement in which it congratulates the Estonian Jewish community and all people of Estonia on the 100th anniversary of Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia.
The Statement says:
“This anniversary marks a significant milestone in the history of the Republic of Estonia and holds a special place in the history of European Jewish communities as well. The Law on Cultural Autonomy of Ethnic Minorities, which was passed in 1925, gave Estonian Jews the opportunity to establish their own cultural self-government – a step that earned international recognition and affirmed that the young Republic of Estonia was committed to freedom, equality, and respect for the rights of minorities.
When Estonia gained independence, that brought about a fundamental change in the lives of the local Jews. The Jewish community, who had lived under various foreign powers over the centuries, was granted full civil rights and the opportunity to freely develop their culture, education, and community life in the Republic of Estonia. Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia became a model that attracted interest in many other countries as well.
Already one hundred years ago, relations began to develop between Estonia and the builders of the Jewish national home in Palestine, which was under the British Mandate at that time. The Republic of Estonia was the first country to be entered into the Golden Book of the Jewish National Fund in recognition of the cultural autonomy granted by Estonia to the Jewish community.
The occupations that began in 1940 led to a violent disruption of Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia. The occupation by the Soviet Union destroyed the cultural self-governance of ethnic minorities and an independent civil society. The Nazi German occupation that followed sought to destroy the Estonian Jewish community itself.
When the Republic of Estonia was restored in 1991, the Jewish community was given the opportunity to continue where the development of free Estonia had been interrupted half a century earlier. Today, the Estonian Jewish community is a viable, visible, and valued part of Estonian society and an important bridge between Estonia and Israel and the entire wider Jewish world.
The active cultural, educational, and social activities of the Estonian Jewish community demonstrate that the tradition established a century ago continues to live on today. The state of Estonia considers it important to ensure that the Jewish community can continue to safely and freely maintain and further develop its identity, culture and religious life.
The current friendly and close relations between Estonia and Israel are based on shared values – democracy, the rule of law, freedom and respect for human dignity. These relations are also built on the significant contribution of the Estonian Jewish community to the development of our society over many generations.
As we celebrate the centenary of Jewish cultural autonomy, we proudly recall a significant achievement of Estonian democracy and tolerance, and we pay tribute to the Estonian Jewish community for its contribution to our shared history and present day. Together, we look confidently to the future.
Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of Jewish cultural autonomy in Estonia!
Am Yisrael Chai!“
The Estonia-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group of the Riigikogu is composed of Chairman Eerik-Niiles Kross and members Vadim Belobrovtsev, Meelis Kiili, Lauri Laats, Juku-Kalle Raid, Riina Sikkut, Aivar Sõerd, Peeter Tali, Vilja Toomast and Kristo Enn Vaga.
For more information: https://www.riigikogu.ee/en/press-releases/others/the-estonia-israel-parliamentary-friendship-group-celebrates-the-100th-anniversary-of-jewish-cultural-autonomy-in-estonia/