The council of the Estonian Jewish Community decided in June 2023 to suspend its membership in the Cultural Council of National Minorities. The reason was Ruuben Kaalep, who was a member of the Integration Foundation's council. Kaalep's anti-Semitic views were in conflict with the objectives of the Integration Foundation.
Now, the council of the Estonian Jewish Community has announced that they are restoring their membership in the Cultural Council of National Minorities. The reason is the changes in the composition of the Integration Foundation's council.
"We highly value the opportunity to participate in the council's work," said the council. This work is aimed at promoting intercultural dialogue and supporting cultural initiatives of Estonia's national minorities. The president of the Estonian Jewish Community, Eduard Klas, will represent the organization.
The Estonian Jewish Community has been a member of the Cultural Council of National Minorities since its establishment in 2008.
The members of the Integration Foundation's council are: Eda Silberg (chair), Aleksei Jašin (representative of Eesti 200), Andrus Tamm (representative of the Center Party), Birute Klaas-Lang (professor at the University of Tartu), Georg Männik (representative of Isamaa), Henri Kaselo (representative of the Social Democratic Party), Kairi Kaldoja (deputy chancellor for language policy at the Ministry of Culture), Kalle Viks (Ministry of Finance), Mari-Liis Jakobson (associate professor at Tallinn University), Maris Toomel (representative of the Reform Party), Mart Kallas (representative of EKRE), and Tarmo Miilits (chancellor at the Ministry of the Interior).