On July 5-8, 2009 the Annual conference of the International Council of Christians and Jews took place in Berlin. The conference was participated by the expert of Moscow bureau for human rights, publicist and political scientist Yuri Tabak. 

Seventy years ago a decision was made in Berlin to start the World War II that affected the fate of mankind greatly. It was participated by 62 states (80% of population of the Earth). Military operations were conducted on the territory of 40 states. 110 mln people were mobilized to the armed forces. Total human losses reached 50-55 mln people, and among them 27 mln people were killed at the front. Military expenses and military losses made up 4 trillion dollars. 

In 1948 in Swiss Seelisberg the Christians and the Jews met for the first time for developing a document on relationship of two religious communities after the World War II and the Holocaust. The historical document got the name of “Ten Points of Seelisberg”. At the current conference that took place in Berlin again, and this is most symbolic, the new document was presented: “A Time for Recommitment: Building the New Relationship between Jews and Christians” including “The Twelve Points of Berlin” – appeal to Christian and Jewish communities of the whole world. The Christians and the Jews from more than 20 countries assembled in Berlin for building new relationship and accepting common responsibility for the future. 

During the solemn ceremony of the conference opening, representatives of member-countries of ICCJ from the whole world signed the new document taking it as guidance for next years. The principal report of that evening was made by Protestant bishop of Berlin and Chairman of the Council of Protestant Churches Dr. Wolfgang Huber. The German government was represented by the minister of home affairs of Germany, Dr. Wolfgang Schaeuble. The reporters noted the important role of Jewish-Christian relations for the future of the whole mankind, marked current achievements and failures in building of inter-religious dialogue and its influence upon the political life. 

A broad range of problems was discussed at the conference – theological aspects of Jewish-Christian relations, importance of the Holocaust, situation at the Middle East and many others. On July 7 ICCJ representatives were invited to the solemn reception timed to 60th anniversary of Coordinating center of relationship between Christians and Jews of Germany. The chancellor of Germany Mrs. Dr. Angela Merkel spoke at the meeting as well as representatives of Jewish, Catholic, Protestant communities of Germany. Mrs. Merkel noted the great danger of growth of xenophobia, anti-Semitism in the world and thanked the reception participants for their active role in strengthening of mutual religious understanding. 

The conference participants listened with big attention and interest to the reports of Yu. Tabak during several workshops about current relationship of Jews and Christians in Russia, their problems and prospects, about activity of the Russian Orthodox Church and other Christian religions and Jewish organizations in this concern. Big interest was shown to English versions of books published by MBHR recently: “Anti-Semitism in today’s Russia” (2008), S. Charny “Xenophobia and intolerance in modern Russia and abroad. Monitoring and analysis” (2009), “About extremism and xenophobia manifestations in Russian Federation in 2008” (2009).