Timofei Lipavski
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, and colleagues. I would like to reflect on the topic of
national minorities through the experience of Jewish communities around the world. For
centuries, Jewish minorities have lived across every region, Asia, Africa, the Middle East,
Europe and the Americas, contributing to the cultures, scientific, economic, and the moral
fabric of the societies they call home. Yet, the history also shows how fragile trust can be,
when prejudice, misinformation, and social exclusion are allowed to grow unchecked.
Today, we are witnessing a horrifying resurgence of antisemitism globally, online and offline,
manifesting in hate speech, conspiracy theories, vandalism, and sometimes violence. These
acts do not target only Jews, they weaken the social cohesion of entire societies, because
hatred of one minority inevitably threatens all minorities. Building trust therefore requires
more than combating discrimination, it requires the voice of Jewish minorities as equal
members of society and recognition of their contributions from advancements in medicine,
technology to efforts in education, humanitarian aid, [inaudible] dialogue. When minority
communities are acknowledged not only for their vulnerabilities, but also for their strengths,
trust between communities grow. Concrete action matters, inclusive and multilingual
education can counter historical distortions. Media literacy can reduce online hatred.
Community-based initiatives show how shared human experience can dissolve barriers
created by fear or ignorance. Excellencies, the Jewish experience offers a broader lesson.
Social cohesion is built when all minorities are seen, respected and empowered to
participate fully in national life. Thank you.