The world we live in is going
through more than one crisis
simultaneously.
Holocaust >
Prominent public figure, international
philanthropist, entrepreneur and investor. He
is committed to progress and has greatly
contributed to revitalising Jewish life in
Europe and beyond.
Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor is known for his
extensive involvement in community life:
Since 2007 - President of the European
Jewish Congress (EJC), re-elected in
December 2008; 2004-2007 - Chairman of
the EJC Board of Governors. The EJC is a
leading Jewish secular umbrella organisation
that co-ordinates 40 national Jewish
communities in Europe, encompassing 2.5
million Jews. The EJC’s goal is to address the
world’s most pressing issues: protecting
human rights, fighting xenophobia and anti-
Semitism, promoting interfaith dialogue,
implementing cultural and educational
programmes, and remembering the Holocaust
and other tragedies that claimed millions of
human lives throughout the world.
The demographic crisis >
The demographic crisis >
International terrorism >
The environmental crisis >
2005 – May 2009 - President of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC), a leading Russian secular
organisation that represents the interests of the whole spectrum of modern Russian Jewry.
Since 2008 – co-Chairman of the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation (ECTR), a
non-governmental organisation established to monitor European countries’ adherence to the
principles of tolerance, develop practical initiatives and make recommendations for promoting
mutual understanding between cultures.
2005 - Initiated and organised the first “Let My People Live!” International Forum in Krakow,
Poland, to mark 60 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Among the participants
and guests at the Krakow Forum were representatives from 40 countries, including 24 official
delegations, led by their heads of state and government.
The second “Let My People Live!” International Forum took place in Kiev, Ukraine, in September
2006 to mark 65 years since the Babi Yar tragedy. The Forum enjoyed great support from
leading international institutions and organisations, such as the Council of Europe and its
Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), as well as high-ranking politicians from many countries. The
Forum’s participants adopted a joint World Holocaust Forum Declaration, aimed at preserving
the eternal memory of the Babi Yar tragedy and its lessons, as well as the memory of the
millions of victims of World War II, the Holocaust and its legacy for generations to come.
The third “Let My People Live!” International Forum was held in Krakow, Poland, on January 27,
2010, to mark the day 65 years ago when the Red Army liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau death
camp. The Forum was attended by nearly 100 deputies from the European Parliament led by
Jerzy Buzek, other representatives of European institutions and official delegations from all over
the world. Auschwitz-Burkenau liberators Ivan Martynushkin and Yakov Vinnichenko were the
Forum’s guests of honour.
Since 2005 - Founder and President of the World Holocaust Forum Foundation (WHF),
established following the Krakow Forum. The Foundation’s goal is to support Holocaust
remembrance activities for the sake of preserving the historical memory of nations all over the
world and preventing future tragedies. The WHF convenes “Let My People Live!” International
Forums on a regular basis.
Since 2006 - Key founder and Chairman of the European Jewish Fund (EJF), which focuses on
promoting Jewish life throughout Europe by supporting programmes to reinforce Jewish identity
and Jewish pride, especially by re-connecting people with their rich and vital Jewish heritage.
The Fund also focuses on addressing pressing concerns threatening Jewish life in Europe, such
as assimilation, anti-Semitism and racism. The primary principle of the Fund is to maintain a
round table where all members can speak openly and participate as equals.
Since 2007 - President of the International Luxembourg Conference on Preventing Nuclear
Catastrophe, the largest non-government expert institution of its kind uniting leading, world-
renowned experts on non-proliferation of nuclear arms, materials and delivery vehicles. The
Forum was established pursuant to the decision of the International Conference on Preventing
Nuclear Catastrophe held in Luxembourg on May 24-25, 2007. The Conference hosted an
unprecedented gathering of leading international experts on nuclear non-proliferation. Over 50
of the most authoritative experts from 14 countries took part in the Conference, including
Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei. The
vital importance of pressing nuclear security issues, the growing danger of the existing non-
proliferation system, which is drifting toward collapse, and the reality of the nuclear threat
prompted the initiative to convene the Conference.
Initiator and supporter of a pan-European programme for effectively counteracting the
escalation of xenophobia, anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism in Europe, and for fighting extremism
and other threats to civilisation. The programme brings together various spheres, including
education, culture and religion, and is endorsed by many political leaders and prominent
institutions, such as the Council of Europe and the European Union.
Co-author and co-organizer of the European Week of Tolerance - a series of events held in
November 2008 in Brussels, Prague, and Kaliningrad to fight against human rights violation,
xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of extremism. This initiative brought
together European leaders and major NGOs who reiterated their commitment to promote
tolerance throughout Europe.
In May 2010 the Tel Aviv University hosted inauguration ceremony of the Kantor Center for the
Study of Contemporary European Jewry, namesake of EJC President and University’s Hon.Dr.
Moshe Kantor. TAU President Yossi Klafter presented the Donor Certificate to Dr. Kantor and said
that “the establishment of the Kantor Research Center on European Jewry is a constructive step
towards reinforcing Jewish pride and identity.” “The new center will support and coordinate
between research projects on campus relating to European Jewry,” he added.
In August 2010 Moshe Kantor has been nominated the Member of the Directorate of the
Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority “Yad Vashem” (official memorial to the
Jewish victims of the Holocaust).
Business and Science
After graduation, Mr. Kantor headed a leading Soviet laboratory engaged in developing
spacecraft. A reflector satellite was designed using his research and subsequently launched into
Earth orbit to illuminate the planet’s surface with reflected sunlight.
1993 - Took the helm at Acron agrochemical company. Under Mr. Kantor’s supervision, Acron
has become one of the world’s leading fertilizer producers and distributors. The Russian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
have recognized Acron as ‘Best Russian Enterprise’ nine times.
1996-2000 - Economic Adviser to the Chairman of the Federation Council (the Upper House of
the Russian Parliament) of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
2000 - Contributed to founding the National Institute of Corporate Reform (NICR), a non-profit
organisation uniting renowned politicians, business leaders and scholars to provide effective
support for corporate reform in Russian industry. Kantor is currently President of the NICR.
Personal Data
Education
Graduated from the Moscow Aviation Institute (1976)
PhD (Spacecraft Automatic Control Systems, 1981)
Honorary Doctorate from Tel-Aviv University (2004)
Government awards of several countries:
Order of Friendship (Russia, 1998)
Order of Merit (Poland, 2005)
Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise (Ukraine, 2006)
Order of Leopold (Belgium, 2009)
Born on September 8, 1953, in Moscow, Russia.
Has 3 sons and a daughter.
