eujs activity report 2008-2010

7/30/2019 EUJS activity report 2008-2010

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ACTIVITYREPORT

20082010

EUROPEANUNIONOFJEWISHSTUDENTS


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INTRODUCTION

society in modern history.

Over the last several years, we have sought

partnerships with the established Jewish world. We

continue to do so as we strongly believe that our

idealism and commitment is a unique contribution

to an often-conservative framework. In these

critical times for the Jewish people it is pivotal forall of us to work together and we strongly urge the

entire Jewish world to work hand in hand with us

to ensure a positive and proactive Jewish future.

Time after time we have proven that we act as

leaders today and have an intrinsic and

indispensable voice in framing our common

agenda.

The Durban Review Conference in 2009 proved

that we, as young Jews, are able to take the lead

and to set the agenda. Unlike the conference in

Durban in 2001, we did not react defensively, but

rather we focused attention on the real human

rights abusers that we speak out against daily

across Europe. The events in Geneva proved that a

new generation of young Jews has come of age

and is ready to raise its voice and fight for its

rights as Europeans and as Jews. In 2001 we left

Durban with heavy hearts; eight years later we left

Geneva with renewed optimism for our common

future.

On a more personal note, the last two years have

been astounding and unique for me in every way. I

am grateful for having had the opportunity to lead

The current financial climate has led every

organization to reflect about its strategic plans.

EUJS has been particularly affected by the

crisis due to the general trend of a severe

decrease in support from Jewish organizations.

While analyzing the financial statistics for the

last five years, it was remarkable to discover

that 40% of the total annual budget derives

directly from participation fees: in other words,

Jewish students have been financing themselves

in recent years.

In the past two years we have seen a significant

growth in anti-Semitism, calling for urgent

action regardless of our financial capabilities.

Despite these challenges we have kept the high-standards of our organization by organizing

more than 40 programs and events in this time

period. We have strived to reflect the

innovative and dynamic nature of the

organization and the individuals we represent in

all our programming and have remained faithful

to the mission of EUJS.

In 2008 EUJS celebrated its 30 th anniversary,

marking the completion of another decade of its

impact on Jewish life on the continent. Thiscoincided with the 25th anniversary of Summer

University and was celebrated at a milestone

event in Istanbul, Turkey, making SU 2008 the

largest Jewish event to occur in a Muslim


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IleaveEUJSwithjoyandpride,

confidentofitsfutureandoutreach

this amazing and vibrant organization. I

leave EUJS with joy and pride, confident of

its future and outreach and with an

increased confidence in the future of the

Jewish people. I wish to express my deepest

gratitude to Lili Dardashti, the EUJS

Executive Director, who through her vision

and commitment has succeeded in

preparing the organization for its futurechallenges.

Words cannot describe our gratitude

towards those who have supported EUJS

and have given us so much on a professional and

personal level. In particular, I want to thank each

student that has participated in our activities and

programs, who have not only made EUJS what it is

today but have also generated strong hope for the

future of Jewish activism.

We are proud and honored to offer a glimpse into the

activities of our organization and to present the

biannual report of the European Union of Jewish

Students.

Jonas Herzberg Karpantschof, President

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

A.ANINVESTMENTINTHEFUTURE:ABOUTEUJS

B.PROGRAMS

1.ARiteofPassage:EUJSSummerUniversity

2.OneVoice:JewishYouthTaketheFloor

3.IntheNameofHistory:EuropeanCitizenship

4.ACoatofManyColours:InterreligiousandInterfaithDialogue

5.InMemorysShadow:GenocideAwarenessandEducation

6.DiplomacyandProIsraelAdvocacy:BalanceandDedication

C.ORGANISATIONALDEVELOPMENT

1.EUJSPresidiumMeeting

2.EUJSProfessionalStaffDevelopment

3.EUJSWebsite

4.EUJSFinancialAnalysis

5.AmericanFriendsofEUJS

D.PUBLICITY

1.EUJSintheMedia

2.EUJSOnlineCommunication

E.2010AGENDA

F.FINANCIALSTATEMENTS

1.2008

2.2009

G.INSTITUTIONALPARTNERS


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A.ANINVESTMENTINTHEFUTURE:ABOUTEUJS

TheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudents(EUJS)

is the umbrella organisation for thirtyfour

national Jewish student unions in Europe and

the Former Soviet Union, representing over

200,000 Jewish students. Founded in1978 in

Grenoble, France, and formerly known as the

EuropeanSectionoftheWorldUnionofJewish

Students, the formation of EUJS solidified a

strong and independent Jewish student

leadershipinEurope.In1982,EUJSopenedits

office in Brussels, Belgium, from where it

continuestooperate.

Cognizantofthereligious,linguisticandcultural

diversity that make up the European Jewish

community,EUJSstrivestopresentavarietyof

perspectives through its leadership training

programs, educational seminars, and

international conferences, all tailormade to

theneedsofitsstudents.EUJShasplaceditself

atthe cuttingedgeof interculturaland inter

religiousprogrammingintheEuropeancontext.

Incontrasttotheviewthattodaysstudents

aretomorrowsleaders,EUJSoperatesonthe

basis that the students which it serves and

represents have a duty to act as leaders

today, paving the way for a future infused

with a strong Jewish identity and in turn, a

commitment to the humanistic ideals

embracedbyJudaism.

As stipulated in its founding charter, the

European Union of Jewish Students was

createdtofostertheunityofJewishStudents

at a European level and to ensure theirparticipation in the fulfillment of the

aspirationsoftheJewishpeople,itscontinuity

andthedevelopmentof itscultural,religious,

socialandspiritualheritage.

Tothatenditseeks:

tounitethenationalUnionsofJewishstudents and young adults between

theageof 18 and35 of all European

countries;


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to facilitate the exchange of ideas and

information between their member and

when appropriate to coordinate their

activities;

torepresent theUnionswithin theWorldUnion of Jewish Students (WUJS) and tocoordinateitsactivitieswithotherregions

withinWUJS;

to represent and to act on behalf of itsMember Organisations before

international bodies with respect to

matterswhichconcernJewishstudentsas

awhole;

to assist Member Organisations and to

encouragetheformationofJewishstudent

organisationswherevertherearestudents;

tostrengthenthetiesofJewishstudentsataEuropeanlevelwithIsraelandtosupport

activities at strengthening the state of

IsraelandtheideaofZionism;

to strengthen the ties of solidarityamong Jewish students everywhere, by

encouragingandassistinginthecreative

development of young Jews in all

spheresofJewishlife;

to encourage Jewish learning and topromote the study of Jewish culture

generallyincludingtheknowledgeofthe

Hebrewlanguage;

tomake Jewish studentsawareof theproblem of Jewish survival in the

Diaspora, and to secure the rights,

status and interestofJewsand Jewish

communities, and to defend them

wherevertheyare;

to fight antiSemitism, racism,xenophobia, antiZionism and other

formsofdiscrimination;

todo all the things that theUnionmayfeel incidental or conductive to the

attainmentoftheaboveaims.

EUJSisaconstituentmemberoftheEuropeanYouth

Forum, the leading platform for more than 90

nationalyouthcouncilsandinternationalNGOs,and

is the only Jewish organization representedat that

level. It is supported by the Council ofEurope, the

European Commission, all recognized Jewish

organizations,and isamember oftheWorldUnion

ofJewishStudents(WUJS).EUJSisoneofthelargestinternational student organizations worldwide and

the first Jewish Youth NGO to obtain the

specialConsultativeStatustotheECOSOCof

theUnitedNations. Itsannualprogramming

includes the Summer University,

international, interreligious, inter

generational seminars, study sessionsat the

European Youth Centre, and cutting edge

work that puts it at the forefront of theEuropeancontext.


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CHAIRPERSON

JonasKarpantschof

(Denmark)

Aleksander Belevski (Serbia),

ViceChair

Gal Leiferman Bensadon

(Spain),ViceChair

Benjamin Zagzag (France),

ViceChair

Andrei Schwartz (Romania),

Treasurer

ChaggaiKon(Netherlands)

GadLazarov(Italy)

VictorPliner(Russia)

AronWaltuch(Switzerland)

LiliDardashti(Switzerland)

PresidiumMembers

ExecutiveDirector


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B.PROGRAM

1)ARITEOFPASSAGE:EUJSSUMMERUNIVERSITY

Every year, the European Union of Jewish Students

holdsSummerUniversity,thelargestannualgatheringof European Jewish students, and the single largest

EuropeanJewisheventtooccuronanannualbasis.

The highlight of EUJSs Jewish studentfocused

programming since 1983, Summer University has

developed into an institutionand a symbol of Jewish

life, Jewish youth, and vibrant Jewish continuity for

hundreds of thousands of young people on the

continent. This oneofakind event provides the

unique opportunity for approximately 500 young

European Jews to interact, while participating in a

weeklong educational program that allows the

studentstoraiseandvoicetheirconcernstoarosterof

internationallyrenowned speakers, ranging from

political representatives and leaders of NGOs to

academics,religious,andculturalfigures.

SummerUniversity isthelaunching groundforfuture

generationsofstudentandprofessional leadership; it

isthepathwayonwhichstudentinvolvementinEUJS

and its member unions often begins. Above all,SummerUniversityembodiesanincrediblenetworking

experienceforparticipants,speakers,andintellectuals,

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and it is anexceptional annual opportunity for

European Jewish youth to interact on Jewishissues.

Thematically, Summer U seeks to address all

issuesofconcerntoitsparticipants,rangingfrom

Jewish culture, entertainment, and education,

Jewish identity and tradition to antiSemitism,

Israel and Zionism, Shoah and genocide

education, interfaith dialogue, politics, history,

and leadership. Conceptually, Summer U

celebratesJewishlifeandstrongJewishidentity

and enables its participants to return home

empowered, inspired, and enlightened by the

power of Jewish youth and our joint

responsibilityofJewishcontinuity.

SummerUniversityissomuchmorethanjustan

annualEUJSeventitisthefutureofJewishlife

on the continent. It is the hope for Jewish

continuityandahome for the revivalofJewish

identity, and it is the only platform on which

Judaism and youth are joined together in aninnovative,modern,andinspiringway.


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Summer University 2008 marked three important

milestones for EUJS,as the 400 participants celebrated

the 30th anniversary of EUJS as well as the 25thanniversaryofSummerUniversity.Furthermore,Summer

U 2008 was unique in the fact that such a large,

successful international Jewish event took place in a

modernMuslimsociety.

The historical event hosted in Istanbul, Turkey was

plannedinpartnershipwiththeTurkishUnionofJewish

Students.

Summer University 2008 brought together 500

participants from over 40 countries and included an

amazing roster of speakers representing academia,

politics,education, andentertainment. EUJSwasproud

to host Mr. Bashy Quraishy, former President of the

European Network Against Racism, Mr. Hillel Neuer,

ExecutiveDirectorofUNWatch,ProfessorSoliOzel,and

Mr.HagaiSegal, alongwith twentyother speakers.The

mostprominentleadersoftheJewishworld,suchasMr.

DavidHarris,ExecutiveDirectorof theAmericanJewish

Committee, and Mr. Dan Mariaschin, Executive Vice

President of Bnai Brith International, were present toaddresstheparticipantsaswell.

Given the historic location of Summer University, an

entire day was devoted to promoting, discussing, and

reflectingonvariousaspectsofinterculturaldialogue.

Entitled Celebrating the Future, Summer University

2008 celebrated the future of the State of Israel, the

future of student activism, and the future of EUJSs

commitment to reaching out to and to embracing

Europeandiversity.

1.2.SummerUniversity2008: CelebratingtheFuture,Istanbul,August2008.


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InconjunctionwiththeSwissUnion

of Jewish Students, EUJS will hold

Summer University 2009 inSwitzerland. This year, Summer

University will host over 450

students and young adults from

Europe,Israelandtheworldatthis

incredible and unforgettable

weeklongevent.

Summer University 2009 will offer

concurrent allday workshops and

activities to its 450 participants.

Given the size and the duration of

theevent,SummerUistheperfect

platformonwhichEUJScanpresent

and broadcast the core activities it

conductsthroughouttheyear.

SummerUparticipantswillhavean

incredible opportunity to meet an

amazing lineup of speakers

representing various fields ranging

from human rights activists andreligious figures, to journalists,

politiciansandculturalpersonalities.

EUJSisproudtohostYossiMelman,

leading Israeli journalist, Farshad

Kholgi,actorandopinionmakerand

many other fascinating anddiverse

speakers,whowillonceagainmake

SummerUmeaningfulandunique.

In keeping with this years theme, Discover New Horizons, Summer University 2009 will engageparticipantsinavarietyofnew,distinctivelecturesandworkshopsandwillencouragethemtoquestion,

challenge,anddiscusstheirownbeliefsandeverythingtheyexperience.SummerUwill therebyallow

the participants to discuss and to exchange ideas for future initiatives in the local unions and will

encouragethecultivationofacommoninterestbybuildingjointinternationalcooperation.

1.3.SummerUniversity2009: DiscoverNewHorizons,Switzerland,August2009


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2)ONEVOICE:JEWISHYOUTHTAKETHEFLOOR

OneofthemostimportantpillarsofEUJSactivityisourcontinuousattempttobridgethe

gap betweenyoung leaders and the established leadershipof the Jewish communities in

Europe.EUJSrecognisestheimportanceofinvestinginyouthinordertosecurethefuture.

Aswestrivetoempowerourconstituentsasleaders,weinsistonprovidingthemwithan

opportunitytotakethefloor,tobecomeactive,andtospeakup.

2.1 TheAmericanJewishCommitteeAnnualMeeting,WashingtonD.C.

Since2005,theEuropeanUnionofJewishStudentshassentalargegroupofstudentactivists,including

itsentireleadership,toWashingtonD.C.fortheannualconferenceoftheAmericanJewishCommittee.

TheAJCAnnualMeetinggivestheEUJSdelegatestheuniqueopportunitytomeetwithJewishleaders

and peers from the United States, Israel, and the Jewish world in its entirety. This experience has

become a hallmarkof EUJSs annual activities, as it offers European Jewish students the chance to

developleadershipandnetworkingexperienceinthecompanyofsomeoftheworldsforemostleaders.

MAY2008

In2008AJCinvitedEUJStobringadelegationoffourteenstudentsandyouthleadersfor

its 102nd Annual Meeting. Thanks to the generosity of AJC, our students had the

opportunity to meet political and cultural leaders from around the world. The EUJS

delegatesalsohadthechancetointeractwiththeirAmericanpeers.EUJSwashonoured

to have both its current Chairperson, Jonas Karpantschof, and its former Chair, Olga

Israel,featuredinvariouspaneldiscussionsonIsraelDiasporarelationsandCreatingaJustAmerica:UNForeignPolicyataCrossroadrespectively.


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MAY2009

Followingwhathasalreadybecomeagreattradition,in2009EUJSbroughtadelegation

oftenstudentandyouthleaderstothe103rdAnnualMeeting.Thisyear,ourdelegates

had the additional, meaningful experience of spending the day prior to the Annual

Meeting visiting the offices of local political and cultural officials and meeting their

representatives.

2.2 EUJSAJCFellowshipProgram2009

Basedonthemutual desire toempoweryoungpeople inEurope and the success ofan initial pilot

program in 2007, this year, for the second time, AJC and EUJS offered a European student the

opportunity to be involved in the work of one of the most successful and influential Jewish

organizations today. AnEUJS fellowwas placed at the AJC office inNew York for aperiod of three

monthsduringthespringof2009.

2.3 WhattodoaboutDurbanII?

May2009Geneva,

DuetoEUJSscommitmenttoworkrelatedtotheUnitedNationsHumanRights

CouncilinGeneva,EUJSwasinvitedtotheconferenceWhattodoAboutDurban

II?organisedbyUNWatch.Theconferencebroughttogetherrepresentativesof

numerousorganisationsanddelegationswiththeaimofdiscussingtheagenda

andthepreparationsfortheDurbanReviewConference.Duringtheconference,

EUJSspublicationDurbanDiarieswaslaunched.

2.4 EuropeanJewishCongressExtraordinaryGeneralAssemblies

FebruaryParis,France&December2008Brussels,Belgium

As future leaders of our individual Jewish communities in Europe, EUJS assigns great value to its

cooperationwithlocalJewishcommunities.EUJSstandsfirminitsattempttonarrowthegenerational

andothergapsbetweencurrentandyoungleadership,anditcontinuouslyinvestsinjointventuresand

collaborationbetweenthetwoineachofitsprograms.

AsapanEuropeanJewishorganisation,EUJSisnaturallypartneredwiththeEuropeanJewishCongress,the sole representative body of democraticallyelected European Jewish Communities throughout

Europe. EUJS cooperateswith the EJC and takespart in its activities as the only organisation that

representsaunitedJewishyouthvoiceattheEuropeanlevel.InFebruaryandDecember2008,EUJS

broughtdelegationstothetwoextraordinaryGeneralAssembliesinParisandBrusselsrespectively.


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2.5 AuschwitzDay

January2008Brussels,Belgium

AspartofitscooperationwiththeEuropeanJewishCongress,EUJSwasinvitedtobringadelegationto

the Auschwitz Holocaust RemembranceDay ceremony in the EuropeanParliament in January 2008.

Theceremonymarkedthe63rdanniversaryoftheliberationofAuschwitzandgatheredrepresentatives

frommostEuropeanJewishcommunities.

2.6 BuildingTogethertheFutureofEurope

March2009Brussels,Belgium

FollowingtheincreaseinantiSemiticattacksonEuropeanJewryinthespringof2009,theEuropean

Jewish Congress organised a oneday symposium at the European Parliament in order to analyse,

discuss,andpromotethefightagainstantiSemitisminEurope.EUJSbroughtatenpersondelegationto

thesymposiumsothatthestudentscouldvoicetheirexperiencesinEurope.

2.7 WorldJewishCongress,13thPlenaryAssembly

January2009Jerusalem,Israel

EUJShasinrecentyearbeenworkingdirectlywiththeWorldJewishCongressasitsactivitiescontinue

to gain a more global character. EUJS has ensured that its leadership is present at WJC General

AssembliesandisincontactwithWJConregularbasissothatthevoicesofyoungpeopleareheardand

takenintoaccount.

2.8 FacingTomorrowPresidentialConference

May2008Jerusalem,Israel

Ontheoccasionofthe60thanniversaryoftheStateofIsrael,PresidentShimonPeresorganisedthefirst

everPresidentialConference,FacingTomorrow.Theaimoftheconferencewastodiscussthefutureof

theglobal,Jewish,andIsraelichallengesoftomorrow.EUJSbroughtadelegationtothiseventthathad

theopportunitytomeetprominentworldleaderssuchasGeorgeW.Bush,TonyBlair,ElieWieseland

hundredsofotherpoliticalandculturalfigures.

2.9 LondonConferenceonCombatingAntiSemitism

February2009London,UnitedKingdom

InFebruary2009,EUJSleadershipwasinvitedtothegroundbreaking LondonConferenceonCombating

AntiSemitismorganisedbytheInterParliamentaryCoalitionforCombatingAntiSemitismintheUnited

Kingdom.TheeventofferedauniqueopportunityforEUJStodiscussactionneededonapanEuropean

level and to exchange knowledge and experiencewith regards to the battle against discrimination,

particularlyantiSemitism.


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2.10 AEuropeanVoiceattheWorldUnionofJewishStudents

2008and2009JerusalemandTelAviv,Israel

Inthepast twoyears, EUJS leadershaveattendedandhelped toleadtwoWUJSCongressesheld in

JerusalemandTelAviv.EUJSChairpersonJonasKarpantschofservedontheSteeringCommitteeduring

theWUJSGeneralAssemblyinDecember2008whenitsnewPresidentwaselected.DuringeachWUJS

Congress,EUJSorganisedameetingofEuropeanJewishleaderstodiscussthemostpressingissuesinordertoencourageEUJSmemberunionstobemoreactiveonagloballevel.Throughoutthepasttwo

years,EUJShasalsosentitsleaderstothemeetingsoftheWUJSExecutiveBoard.

2.11 ROISummit

July2009TelAviv,Israel

InJuly2009,EUJSwasinvitedtoparticipateinthethirdAnnualROISummit,whichgathersyoungadults

andprofessionalsinanefforttoinspireJewishentrepreneurship.EUJSvaluesitspartnershipwithROI

given that many EUJS leaders can benefit from ROIs support and networking resources for youngJewishprofessionals.

2.12 EuropeanEncounters

March2009Cracow,Poland

Given EUJSs commitment to strengthening itsmember

unions, in the spring of 2009 EUJS launched European

Encounters 2009, an initiative focused on building

leadershipbyfosteringdialoguebetweentheleadersof

thestudentunionsandtheirestablishedcommunities,as

wellasbetweenthevariousmemberunionsrepresented

withinEUJS.Thisseminar,organisedinpartnershipwith

CEJI, A Jewish Contribution toan Inclusive Europe,was

also dedicated to strengthening the commitment,

involvement,andpresenceofadiverseEuropeanJewish

societyinCentralandEasternEurope.

Today,weseethattheinternationaloutlookoftheJewishcommunitiesacrosstheEuropeancontinent

lags because of the focusonpressing internal local and nationalneeds.Asaresult,communitiesdonottakeadvantageofvaluable

opportunitiesforcollaborationontheEuropeanlevel.

By reinforcing contact within and between communities and

encouragingparticipants involvementintheEuropeanUnion,the

seminar enhanced theparticipants understandingof their home

communities andmotivated them

toworktowardsaunited,inclusive

EuropeansocietywithastrongandactiveJewishpopulation.European

Encounters developed its participants understanding of political

realities and institutional opportunities in the European Union and

supported their efforts in organising international collaborative

activities.


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3)INTHENAMEOFHISTORY:EUROPEANCITIZENSHIP

EUJSworksenthusiasticallytowardspromotingcivilresponsibilityandactivecitizenship,thereby

ensuringthatEuropeanJewishstudentsandyoungadultsremaininvolvedintheirsocietiesand

intheEuropeanyouthsectorandremaincommittedtoJudaismandtothestateofIsrael.EUJS

isconsciousofitsresponsibilitiesasoneofthelargestJewishstudentorganisationsintheworld,

representing the approximately 200,000 students of the thirtyfour national Jewish student

unions in Europe and the former Soviet Union. With its offices in Brussels, the home of

Europeanpolicyandlawmaking,EUJSseekstoinfluenceanewgenerationofyoungpeoplewho

areproudofbeingEuropeanandreadytobeactivelyinvolvedintheirrespectivesocietieson

bothJewishandnonJewishissues.

3.1 EUJSattheEuropeanYouthForum

EUJS is amember of the European Youth Forum (EYF), the largest political youth platform on the

continentmadeupofninetyninenationalyouth councilsandinternationalnongovernmental youth

organisations,whicharethemselvesfederationsofyouthorganisations.EYFisinstitutionallyaffiliated

withboththeCouncilofEuropeandtheEuropeanCommission.Organisedinordertorepresenttheir

commoninterests,EYFbringstogethertensofmillionsofyoungpeoplefromalloverEurope,manyof

whomgoontobecomeEuropeanpoliticalleaders.AstheonlyJewishorganisationpresentatthislevel,

EUJShasaspecialresponsibilitytoconveyabalancedbutstrongmessage.

EverysixmonthsallthemembersoftheEuropeanYouthForummeetforseveraldaystodiscussthe

mostimportantissuesandtovoteonandadoptpoliciesthattheEYFwillcarryoutinthemonthsto

come. Thedecisions votedonvary frombudgetarymatters topanEuropeanpoliciesandcampaigns

thatwillbecarriedoutonbehalfofallmemberorganisations.EUJSspresenceandactiveroleatthese

meetingsiscrucial,astheinterestsoftheJewishyouthinEuropewouldremainabsentfromtheagenda

otherwise.

3.2 EUJSInsidetheCouncilofEurope

In2006formerEUJSChairperson,LionelSchreiber,waselectedmemberoftheAdvisoryCouncil2006

2008attheDirectorateofYouthandSportsattheCouncilofEurope.HewasalsoelectedChairperson

oftheProgrammingCommitteeoftheEuropeanYouthFoundation.ThisputEUJSattheforefrontof

settingtheagendaaswellastheprioritiesonyouthpolicyacrossthecontinent.Lionelspositionwas

prolongeduntilmid2009.

3.3 CouncilofEuropeParticipatoryStatusforInternationalNGOs

withtheCouncilofEurope.In 2008 EUJS acquired participatory status as an international NGO at the Council of Europe. In

accordance with resolution 8 (2003), the Council of Europe grants this status to NGOs that are

particularlyrepresentativeinfieldsofactionsharedbytheCouncilofEurope,thatis,thosethatare

activeonEuropeanlevelandworktowardsEuropeanunity.


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3.4 CouncilofEuropesSpeakoutAgainstDiscriminationCampaign.

SpeakoutAgainstDiscrimination istheCouncilof Europesantidiscriminationcampaignonvarious

aspects of discrimination arising out of racist attitudes and prejudice with a special emphasis on

Islamophobia,antiSemitismandantigypsysentiment.AsthiscampaignisafollowuptotheCouncilof

Europes20062008campaign,AllDifferent,AllEqual, itisnaturalforEUJStocontinueitscollaborative

efforts on this project given that diversity education, human rights, and civic involvement figure

prominentlyinEUJSsmission.EUJShasorganisedaseriesofactivities,conferences,andeventsaspart

ofthenewcampaign.

3.5EUJSasMemberofEuropeanNetworks

COALITIONEUROPE

EUJSwasoneofthefirstorganisationstojoinCoalitionEurope.Thiscoalitionservesasanew

platformforpanEuropeanhumanrightsNGOstoworktogetheronhumanrightsissues,suchascombatingracismanddiscriminationandgrantingrightsformigrantworkers,women,theLGTB

population,andRoma,amongothers.CoalitionEuroperecognisestheneedforacohesiveNGO

community throughout Europe, one that will develop common campaigns and that will

broadcasttheunheardvoicesofthosewhosufferfromdiscrimination,exclusion,andracism.

UNITED

UNITEDisaEuropeannetworkagainstultranationalism,racism,andfascismandinsupportof

migrantsandrefugees.Itisbasedonthecooperationofmorethan560organisationsfrom49

European countries working together in the biggest antiracism network. EUJS has been a

member of the UNITED network for many years and proactively supportsand promotes the

workofthisimportantinitiative.SomeoftheactionstakenbyUNITEDhavebeen:ActionWeek

Against Racism, International Refugee Day, International Day Against Fascism and Anti

Semitism, OneRace HumanRace!, OpenBorders OpenMinds!, and Protectionand

EqualRightsforRoma!

4)ACOATOFMANYCOLOURS:

INTERFAITH,INTERRELIGIOUSANDINTERCULTURALDIALOGUE

WeliveinaEuropethathasmultiplefacesandidentities,anditisourtasktolearnhowtobest

reconcileourdifferenceswhilecelebratingtheheritageandrichcultureeachoftheseidentities

brings.Therichnessanddiversityofourfaithsshouldserveasastartingpointforajointjourney

towardsabetterfutureratherthanasacausefordivisionandseparation.Therearemanyways

of undertaking interreligious dialogue, each of which begins with introspection and

understandingonesrootsandbackgroundbeforeengagingwithothers.

Inacontinentofoverfiftycountries,eachyoungpersonlivesaverydifferentreality.Wearea

generation of highlyindividualised European studentsa generation that is marked by thechoiceswe make, the obstacleswe choose to overcome, and the taboos we vow to break.

Cognisantofthereachandtheimpactitsactivitieshave,EUJSiscommittedtocontributingtoa

moreunitedyetdiversifiedEuropewithequalrightsforall,regardlessoffaithorethnicity.


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4.1EUJSasafoundingmemberoftheFaithBasedExpertGroup(FBEG)

In 2003 a group of faithbased international nongovernmental youth organisations began tomeet

regularlyattheEuropeanYouthForumsecretariatinBrusselsinordertoexchangeideasonhowtheir

organisations could improve communication and promote cooperation in the field of interreligious

dialogue.ThisinformalgroupwasacceptedasanofficialgroupcalledtheFaithBasedExpertGroup,

supportedbytheEuropeanYouthForumduringitsGeneralAssemblyinMadrid,1113November2004.

Accordingtoitscharter,theaimofthisgroupwastodevelopanunderstandingoftheroleofreligion

and interreligious dialogue, to contribute to the current and future activities of international

institutionsandtodevelopactionsrelatedtothistopic.EUJSadvocatedfortheFBEGtobecomean

officialworkingbodyoftheEuropeanYouthForumsoastogiveitatruepanEuropeancharacterand

respectivemandate.ThissuggestionwasacceptedinDecember2006

Despite current political sensitivity resulting from an escalation of intolerance, antiSemitism,

Islamophobiaandreligiousattritioningeneral,thegroupsformationhasengagedinfruitfuldiscussions

inordertotacklethecritical issuesfacingEuropetoday.Oncetheissueswereidentifiede.g.,social

andculturalsegregation,conflictsandmisunderstandings,discriminationandintegrationchallenges

theFBEGcompileditsgoalsandprioritiesandpresenteditsfindingstotheEYFSummit,which,inturn,

TOOL KIT ON INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE IN YOUTH WORK - 2008

LIVIN FAI HS

T GETHER


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CHRONOLOGY

JANUARY2004 EUJS is a foundingmember of the first interreligious subgroup at the

EuropeanYouthForum,composedofsevenEuropeanFaithbasedyouth

organisationsrepresentingallmajormonotheisticfaiths:

1. FEMYSO The Forum of European Muslim Youth and StudentOrganisation

2. PaxChristiInternational3. FIMCAPInternationalFederationofCatholicYouthOrganisations4. EPTOEuropeanPeerTrainingOrganisation5. EYCEEcumenicalYouthCouncilinEurope6. JECIMIECInternationalMovementofCatholicStudents7. WSCFWorldStudentChristianFederation

JANUARY20042006 TheFaithbasedgroupmeetsregularlyinBrusselstooutlinetheactivities

andmethodologyofitsholisticapproach.

MAY1217 2005 TheFaithbasedgroupholdsitsfirstEuropeaninterfaithyouthmeetingin

Warsaw,Poland,entitledJumaShabbatSundayaspartoftheCouncilof

EuropeYouthSummitandparalleltotheHeadofStateSummit.

JANUARY1723 2006 EUJSholds second interfaith meeting in conjunctionwith theEuropean

CommissionentitledFindingOneVoice:FaithBasedEducationasaToolfor

Avoiding Misunderstandings and Overcoming Prejudices in Barcelona,

Spain.

NOVEMBER2006 TheFaithBasedExpertGroupdecidestojointheEuropeanYouthForum

asitsexpertbody.ThisdecisionisadoptedattheEuropeanYouthForum

GeneralAssemblyinVilnius,Lithuania.

Dec.492006 EUJSholdsthirdinterreligiousmeetinginconjunctionwiththeCouncilof

Europe entitled Sharing our Faith Sharing our Pride: an interreligious

perspective on religious identity for young people in the new Europe in

Brussels,Belgium.

Jan.07Dec.2008 Publ ication of L iv ing Fai ths Together Too lk it on Inter

religiousDialogue (seebelow) .


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4.2LivingFaithsTogetherToolkitonInterreligiousDialogue.

Followingitsconception,inMay2005theFaithBasedExpertGroupundertookanefforttodevelopan

educationaltoolkitoninterreligiousdialoguefortrainersandyouthorganisationsacrossEurope.The

aim of this toolkit is to encourage youth organisations to promote interreligious dialogue in their

respectivesocietiesandtoprovidetrainerswiththe logisticalinformationneededforactivitiesofthis

genre.Thetoolkit,publishedinDecember2008,isthefirstofitskindandcanbeusedasareferencefor

activitiesandasawayofexploringthesimilaritiesbetweenthedifferentreligions.

4.3"LivingourfaithinamulticulturalsocietyDevelopingIntercultural

Dialogueasalifestyle,"November2008Derbyshire,UnitedKingdom

EUJS was invited to speak alongside Muslim and Christian colleagues at a panel dealing with the

understanding of other religions and what they can offer post-modern society from both a secular and a

religious perspective. The conference provided an ideal forum for discussing the relationship betweenfaith, culture, and society and was enlivened by contributions from participants with diverse backgrounds

and opinions. EUJS Presidium member Victor Pliner represented EUJS at the conference.

4.4KazanInternationalForumontheReligiousDimensionsof

InterculturalDialogue, December2008Kazan,Russia

InDecember2008EUJSwas invitedbytheCouncilof Europe totakepart ina fivedayInternational

Forum on the Religious Dimensions of Intercultural Dialogue in Kazan. The forum covered several

aspectsofinterreligiousdialogue,includingeducation,ethics,roleofyoungpeople,discriminationand

freedomofspeech,andprovedvaluableforEUJS,allowingittodeveloptieswithyouthorganisations

from across Europe.During the forum, EUJSwas invited topresent its work in conjunction with its

partnerorganisationsfromtheFaithBasedExpertGroupandtheresultsofitsrecentlypublishedtoolkit

oninterreligiousdialogue,LivingFaithsTogether.


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5)INMEMORYSSHADOW:GENOCIDEEDUCATIONANDAWARENESS

ThephraseNeverAgainembodiedthehopeofhumankindaftertheHolocaust.Sincethentheworld

haswitnessedgenocidesinCambodia,Bosnia,andRwanda,andcurrentlyinDarfur.Theseeventsarea

stainontherecordofhumanity,andEUJSisdeterminedtomaketheworldremember,acknowledge,

andinternalisetheseexperiences,sothathumanityasawholedoesnotrepeatthesamemistakesand

actions.Youngpeople need tobeeducated, both about theirown history and about the historyof

othersinordertofindcommongroundandtosearchforwaystostrivetowardsamorepeacefuland

tolerant world. EUJS is determined to extend its outreach so as to fulfil its commitment to raise

awarenessandtoeducateyounggenerationsabouttheuniversalmessageoftheShoah.

Withthisinmind,EUJSanditspartnerslaunchedSharedMemoriesCollectiveAction,alongtermcampaign on genocide education, in April 2006, beginning with amission to Rwanda that brought

togetherJewishstudentsandTutsistudents,mostofwhomweresurvivorsoftheTutsigenocide.

Thegoalsofthecampaignare:

Toshareacommonhistorywithotherpeopleswhoseidentitieshavebeenshapedbygenocide TolearnabouttheuniversaldimensionoftheShoah Tounderstandtheprocessesandthemechanismsthatallowgenocidetooccur Toeducateyoungpeople,JewishandnonJewish,abouttheuniqueplaceoftheHolocaustinthe

contextofgenocides

To discuss and set an agenda on how to raise sensitivities and challenge ideologies thatencourageorallowgenocidetotakeplace

TotakeactionagainstantiSemitismandotherformsofracism

5.1 SharedMemories,CollectiveAction:SharingOurPastandFuture

May2008Amsterdam,theNetherlands

InMay2008,theEuropeanUnionofJewishStudents,incooperationwiththeEuropeanUnionofYoung

SurvivorsoftheTutsiGenocide,theCercleDesEtudiantsRwandaisdeBelgique,andPeaceandJustice

forDarfur,organisedtheseminarSharedMemories,CollectiveAction:SharingOurPastandFutureinAmsterdam,theNetherlands.


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As an organisation catering to the needs of the young generation, we hold the responsibility of

preserving the memory of the Shoah and of educating the newer generations, which have amore

distantassociationwith the atrocitiesofWorldWar II. Asthe descendantsofsurvivors, youngJews

must reexamine and bring new life to the task of sustaining awareness about the Shoah and of

committingtotheNeverAgaincampaignoftheirpredecessors.TheJewishcommunitymustnowtake

anactiveroleinpreventinganddealingwiththeconsequencesof

genocide.

The main theme of this programme was to understand the

evolution of collective memory and genocide education,

particularly regarding the Shoah, throughout the last several

decades.TheprojectinvestigatedhowtheShoahhasbecomepart

ofpeoplesidentityandhowthisidentityhaschangedinlightof

advances like the Eichmann trial, the official recognition and

acknowledgement of Shoah, and the growing fear that the

atrocitiesofShoahwillbe forgottenwhen thelast generationof

survivorshaspassedaway.

Withthesefearsforthefuture,itiscrucialthatweexaminethedifferentphasesofinternalisationand

copingmechanismspresent intheaftermathofsuchhorrifictragedy.Concurrently,givenourhistory,

we,asJewish people,become naturaldefenders ofthe rights and freedomsof others both through

sharingourexperiencesandtakingaction.Itisforthisreasonthatthisprogrammebroughttogether

youngJews,youngTutsisurvivorsofthegenocideinRwanda,andyoungDarfurirefugeesinorderto

sharetheirthoughtsandfeelingsaboutpeace,tolerance,andreconciliation.

5.2 70thcommemorationoftheKristallnachtandtheSpecialEvent

PromotingToleranceattheEuropeanContinent

November2008Brussels,Belgium

EUJSbroughtadelegationof20Jewishstudentsandpartnerstotheinternationalcommemorationof

the 70th anniversary of the Kristallnacht as well as the Special Event Promoting Tolerance at the

EuropeanContinentheldattheEuropeanParliamentinBrusselsinNovember2008.TheEUJSdelegates

camefromBelgium,Bulgaria,Denmark,France,Italy,Poland,Portugal,Romania,Russia,Serbia,Spain,

Switzerland,Turkey,andUnitedKingdomandwere joinedby threeTutsi survivorsof the1994Tutsi

genocideinRwanda.

With pride, our students joined several European politicians and cultural leaders at the European

ParliamenttorepresentandemphasisethesurvivalandtheroleoftheJewishpeopleinEurope.The

meaningfulandimpressiveceremoniesdeeplytouchedandempoweredeachofourstudents.


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6)BALANCEANDDEDICATION:DIPLOMACYANDPROISRAELADVOCACY

AcrossEurope,anewgenerationofyoungJewishmenandwomenisemerging,asignificantmajorityof

whomareindifferenttoissuesofJewishpoliticalactivismandtheStateofIsrael.Whilesomeofthese

youtharestillstudents,manyofthemareyoungprofessionalsininfluentialpositionswithregardsto

Europeanpoliticsonbothnationalandpancontinentallevels,thusembodyingimmensepotentialand

opportunity inthepolitical sphere.Today,wewitnessan increasedneedfor involvementwithincivil

societyandagreaterneednotonlytovoiceonesopinionbutalsotoactuponitinanefforttochange

thepoliticalstatusquo.

ThepoliticalrealityinEuropereflectstheactiveinvolvementofyoungpeople.Nonetheless,theinput

fromtheJewishpopulationhasbeenverymodestbothinadvocatingforEuropeanJewishinterestsand

forthoserelatedtotheStateofIsrael.TheJewishcommunitiesoftheoldcontinenttendtomaintain

amoreconservativeandneutralstance,whichoftenresultsinafailuretoempowertheirmembership

ortoencouragepoliticalactivityandinvolvement.

This turning point in the history ofEuropean Jewish life offers the chance for a new generation ofleaders to raise political awareness across the continent, to revitalise their political activism, to

strengthenthebondsacrossEuropesdiverseJewishcommunities,andtoreinforcetieswithIsraeland

itsfuture.

ThesuccessofEUJSdiplomacyandadvocacycanbeattributedtoitsuniquestructure,whichinfuses

Eurocentrism with Jewish values and Israel education and focuses on building a network that

encouragesyouthinvolvementinEuropeanpoliticalandpublicaffairsanddevelopmentforthefuture.


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6.1EUJSattheUnitedNations

Having obtained the Special Consultative Status to the Economic and Social Council of the United

Nationsin2006,throughoutthelastseveralyearstheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudentshasexpanded

itsactivitiesinthisfield.EUJSisthefirstandonlyJewishyouthvoicewithsuchastatus,whichallowsit

tofightforhumanrights,forthesecurityofIsrael,andagainstgenocideinthecentreofthediplomatic

sphere.

TherelationshipofIsraelandtheUnitedNationshasbeenoneofambivalencesinceIsraelsfounding

followingaUNresolutioninNovember1947.InitsyearsasaState,Israelhasbeenthefocusof

relentlessandbiasedresolutionsrepeatedlycondemningtheStateandheractions.Thetreatmentof

IsraelatthenewlyreformedHumanRightsCouncilanditsprecedingbody,theHumanRights

Commission,serveasproofthatthereisaneedforcarefulinvestigationintothemotivesoftheUNand

thebiasedactionsithasundertakenasaresultofthehijackingofkeyUNbodies,whichhave

compromiseditslegitimacy.

ManyofthechallengesfacingtheUNandmuchoftheproblematictreatmentofIsraelarecentredat

theUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil.EUJShasidentifiedtheneedtotakeaproactivestancewith

regardstotheseissuesandtoextenditsactivitiesasaglobalvoiceofJewishyouth.

6.2EUJSDelegationtotheHumanRightsCouncil

March2008Geneva,Switzerland

InMarch2008,EUJSsentadelegationofstudentsandyoung

leaders to the United Nations Human Rights Council in

Geneva. The delegation, led byEUJS ViceChair AleksandarBelevski, met with several heads of diplomatic missions,

includingthoseofGermany,Italy,Egypt,andTurkey,among

others, in order to express its concern about the Durban

Review Conference and about human rights violations

around the world. The delegation also addressed the

assembly inanunprecedentedmannerwhen delegateLisa

LevyquestionedthelegitimacyoftheprocessoftheDurban

ReviewConference.

6.3EUJSbringsSderotstudenttotheHumanRightsCouncilatthe

UnitedNations January2009Geneva,Switzerland

DuringtheIsraelioperationCastLead,EUJS,inpartnershipwithUNWatchbroughta23yearoldlaw

student, LirazMadmony, from Sderot, Israel to the Special Session onGaza of the United Nations

HumanRightsCouncilinGeneva.OnbehalfofEUJS,Lirazaddressedtheassemblyandspokeabouther

dailylife,theplightofherfamily,andtheirsufferingandsurvivalinacitybombardedbynearly10,000

Hamasrocketsthroughoutthepasteightyears.ShepledfortheUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil

totakethenecessarymeasurestowardsendingtheconstantbarrageonIsraelibordercities.


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6.4EUJSAmbassadorstotheUN:SettingtheTonefortheDurbanReview

Conference:April2008April2009,panEuropeancampaign.

In2001,theformerChairpersonoftheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudents,JoelleFiss,ledadelegation

ofJewishstudentactiviststotheUnitedNationsWorldConferenceAgainstRacism(WCAR)inDurban,

SouthAfrica. Ironically, in thenameofantiracism,theWCAR turned intoa disastrous failurewhere

manyNGOstrampledonthefundamentalvaluesoftheUnitedNations,aswellasontheprinciplesofthe Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The conference became a spectacle of hatred and of

demonisation and even reawakened a panoply of longforgotten antiSemitic stereotypes. This

outburstofpoliticalalienationandantiSemitismlaidthegroundworkforthemodernphenomenonof

antiSemitismdisguised asantiZionism,rooted in thedenial ofZionism,particularly its fundamental

rightofselfdetermination for the Jewish people aswellas the rightof the Jewish Diaspora to feel

connectedtoitsMotherland.

Awareoftheoutcomeofthe2001DurbanReview,inApril2008EUJSlaunchedaoneyearinitiative

withtheaimofcreatingawarenessandpreparingJewishstudentsacrossEuropeforthe2009Durban

ReviewConference.

6.5 DurbanDiaries:WhatReallyHappenedattheWorldConference

AgainstRacism. PublishedinMay2008.

In order to prepare students. EUJS compiled and distributed written material about the WCAR in

anticipationofthe2009DurbanReviewConference.

Upon the return of the EUJS delegation from the WCAR,

former EUJS Chairperson Joelle Fiss published the article,

The Durban Diaries, which EUJS translated, edited, and

republished.Morethan1,000copiesofTheDurbanDiaries

were distributed in the first few weeks following its

publication,anddelegationsfromacrosstheworldexpressed

theneed formorecopies that they coulddistribute locally.

TheDurban Diarieswas also downloadedmore than500

timesfromtheEUJSshomepage.Asecondeditionwaslater

published in partnership with the American Jewish

CommitteeinNovember2008.

What really happened at the UN Conference

against Racism in Durban (2001)JOLLE FISS

DURBANDIARIES

THE


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6.6EUJSdelegationstothePreparatoryMeetingsfortheDurbanReview

Conference. April2008,JanuaryandApril2009.

EUJSbroughtdelegationsofstudentstothesessionsofthePreparatoryMeetingsinordertoprepare

the students for the Durban Review Conference and to ensure that there was Jewish student

representationandinvolvementintheconference,aswellastobuildcoalitionswithnonJewishNGOs.The students raised concerns about the conferences agenda and reminded otherNGOs about the

responsibilityofUNmemberstatestoupholdtheUniversalDeclarationforHumanRightsthroughout

theentireprocess.

6.7 EUJSAMBASSADORSTOTHEUN:SettingtheTonefortheDurban

ReviewConference February2009Geneva,Switzerland

AspartoftheDurbanReviewConferencecampaign,EUJSheldafivedayseminarinordertoprepare

thestudentsfortheDurbanReviewConference.EUJS

recruited thirty talented andcapable students from

twenty countries across Europe and Israel and

equippedthemwithadvanceddiplomaticskills,tools,

and information in preparation for the Durban

Review Conference. After intensive training the

participantshadtheopportunitytoutilisetheirnew

skills in preparing and setting the agenda for

meetings with UN officials, diplomats, and

ambassadors.Thegroupmetwithambassadorsand

mission representatives from Turkey, the CzechRepublic, South Africa, Poland, Switzerland, Italy,

UnitedKingdom,Japan,andIsrael.

By spearheading the preparations for and the

executionofthesemeetings,thestudentswereable

to prepare for the challenges that awaited them

some months later. The EUJS delegates conveyed

their concerns regarding the Durban Review

Conference consistently and effectively and urged

the diplomatic corps to ensure that the Durban

ReviewConferencewouldupholdtheloftymandate

oftheUnitedNations.


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6.8 UnitedNationsDurbanReviewConference

EUJS brought a 110person delegation from across the

worldto theDurbanReviewConference.Cognisantof the

agenda that would be put forth at the conference, the

objectiveoftheEUJSdelegationspresencewastoredirect

the focus of the conference to the actual forms of

discrimination currently occurring in Europe and in the

world, especially regarding the treatment of Roma, the

ongoing genocide inDarfur, and rights regardless of sex

and sexual orientation. EUJS aimed to broaden the

dialogue on these issues through diplomacy, advocacy,

demonstrations, leafleting, and other forms of necessary

action.

The primary actions of the EUJS delegation during the

DRCwerethefollowing:

AprimaryconcernpriortheconferencewasthevisitandaddressofIranianPresidentMahmoud

Ahmadinejad. Set to take place on Yom

HaShoah,theconferencebecameaplatformfor

President Ahmadinejads hateful rhetoric,

specificallyHolocaustdenialandantiSemitism.

As a response EUJS led a proactive, focused,

studentdriven response that initially involved

demonstrating outside the plenary and thenoutside Ahmadinejads press conference The

UNresponsewastoannulEUJSsaccreditation.

IncooperationwithStandWithUsEUJSstagedasilentprojectentitledTheUNRemainsSilent.75

EUJSdelegatesdonnedtapeontheirmouthsas

a symbol of the silence of UN and displayed

banners exhibiting human rights crises that

havenotbeenaddressedbytheUN,specificallythe genocide in Darfur, the nuclear threat of

Iran,and the lackofhumanrights around the

world.

IncooperationwithStandWithUsEUJSstagedasilentprojectentitledTheUNRemainsSilent.75

EUJSdelegatesdonnedtapeontheirmouthsas

a symbol of the silence of UN and displayed

banners exhibiting human rights crises that

havenotbeenaddressedbytheUN,specifically

the genocide in Darfur, the nuclear threat of

Iran,and the lackofhumanrights around the

world.


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Throughout the past several years, EUJS hascampaigned and organised events to bring

attentiontotheongoinggenocideinDarfur.As

such,itwasintrinsicforEUJSscommitmentto

fighting racism to raise this issue during the

DurbanReviewConference.Withcollaboration

fromPeaceandJusticeforDarfurandLeCercle

Des Etudiants Rwandais de Belgique, EUJS

organisedademonstrationinfrontoftheUNin

order to raise awareness about the genocide

and to demand that the UN take immediate

action.

EUJS was proud to be part of the SteeringCommittee representingJewish organizations

at the Conference Against Racism,

DiscriminationandPersecution, organized by

UNWatch,aswellasIsraelInspirespriortoandduringtheDurbanReviewConference.


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6.9 TheInitiativeforaNewEuropeanVoice

April2009Madrid,Spain

As EUJS recognises the urgency of mobilising young Jewish political forces across the European

continent,TheInitiativeforaNewEuropeanVoice,wascreated.Thisprojectcombinescoreadvocacy

andproIsraeleducationalstrengthswiththespiritofcivilactivism,commitment,andvitalitythathas

cometorepresentEUJS.

InApril2008EUJSlaunchedtheinnovativepilotofalongterminitiativetobuildanetworkofEuropean

youthwho are awareof Israelrelated issues. EUJS brought together youngadults from France and

Spainofacertainprofessionalbackgroundinagroundbreakingseminartoprovidethemwithnecessary

tools,factsandanalysisforgreaterawarenessandadvocacy.

The goal of the project was to offer knowledge that the participants could use in their working

environments and daily professional situations. As opposed to other initiatives that take a more

theoreticalapproach,EUJSsoughttoequipyoungparticipantswithpracticallogisticalinformationand

tools. The conferenceallowed the participants togain knowledge and insightsfromaunique set of

speakers,panellists,andtrainers.

Additionally,aspartoftheprogramme,twoyoungprofessionalsweregrantedninemonthlong

fellowshippositionsinproIsraeladvocacyorganisationsintheirhomecountries.

6.10 AIPACPolicyConference

June2008andMay2009Washington,D.C.

EUJS is continuously trying to offer as many diverse opportunities and experiences as it can in its

attempt tobroaden the horizonsof its youngactivists and

leaders.Forthelastfouryears,EUJShassentitsleadersto

participateintheAnnualPolicyConferenceoftheAmerican

Israel Public Affairs Committee. This fascinating gathering

offers a unique experience for EUJS students, opening a

window to the unique realmof proIsrael advocacy in the

UnitedStates.


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C)ORGANIZATIONALDEVELOPMENT

1)EUJSPresidiumMeeting

TheEUJSPresidiumistheelectedconsultativebodythatassiststheChairpersoninimplementingEUJSspoliciesanddecisions.ItconsistsofsevenPresidiummembersandaTreasurer.

Bytheendofitsterm,EUJSwillhaveheldsevenPresidiumMeetings:

TransitionalWeekendinBrussels,December2007 PresidiumMeetinginWashingtonDC.,May2008 PresidiumMeetinginAmsterdam,May2008 PresidiumMeetinginIstanbul,August2008 PresidiumMeetinginBrussels,November2008 PresidiumMeetinginSwitzerland,August2009 TransitionalWeekendinBrussels,November2009

Parallel to the official meetings, EUJSs elected leadership has maintained contact via phone

conferencesandemail.ThePresidium isregularlyupdatedby theChairpersononallEUJS activities,

developments,andendeavours.

ThemembersoftheEUJSPresidiumserveasEUJSAmbassadorsintheirrespectivecountriesandaspart

oftheorganizingteamatallEUJSevents,andtheypromoteEUJSactivitiesatdifferentconferencesand

gatheringsthroughouttheworld.

2)FellowshipatEUJS

EUJShas been home tomany fellowsand interns in the past severalyears. Thishas contributedto

EUJSsprofessionalandorganisationalprogressanddevelopmentandhasallowedtheseindividualsto

experiencehowapanEuropeanJewishorganizationoperates,howinternationalprogramsarerun,and

whatJewishyouthleadershipmeanstoday.EUJShashostedthreefellowsatitsofficeoverthepasttwo

years.

AswecontinuouslystrivetoempoweryoungJewishleadersinmanydiverseways,EUJShasdeveloped

its partnership with the American Jewish Committee and StandWithUs, which serve as hostorganisationsforfellowsatEUJS.WeareawarethattheexperienceofworkingattheEUJSsecretariat

canchangeafellowslifeandreshapehisorhertraditionalviewsonJewishleadership.

3)EUJSFinancialAnalysis

EUJSsannualbudgethasremainedstablethroughoutthepastseveralyearswithonlyaslightdecrease

recordedin2008and2009.Thisdecreasecanbeattributedprimarilytotheongoingglobaleconomical

crisisaswellasthecontinuouslyshrinkingsupportfromtheJewishworldatlarge.

Inrecentyearssignificanteffortshavebeenmadetodiversifysourcesofincomeinordertomakethe

organizationlessdependenton traditionaldonorsandthereforelessvulnerabletothefluctuationsof

theirsupport.


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Despitetheseefforts,participationfeeshavebeenthemainsourceofincomeforEUJSoverthepast

fiveyears,surpassinganyothersourceofincomeatleastthreefold.Participationfeesamountto40%of

thetotalannualbudgetthusindicatingthatJewishstudentshavebeenmainlyselffinancedthemselves

andtheirJewishactivities.

As an organisation dedicated to preserving

accountability, EUJS works continuously towards

finding different ways to lower its operational andadministrative costs in order to directly invest the

most resources in programming and its students.

Significantsuccessesbybothpreviousandcurrentleadershiphaveemergedintheseefforts.In2009

EUJSdirectlyallocated83%ofitstotalfundingtoprogramming.

SOURCEOFINCOME2008

SOURCEOFINCOME2009(JANJUN)

17%

83%

Operaonal

Costs

Programming

0 50'000 100'000 150'000

AIPAC

AmericanJewishCommiee

AmericanJewishJointDistribuonCommiee

B'naiBrithInternaonal

CouncilofEurope

Edmond&BenjamindeRothschildFoundaon

EuropeanCommission

EuropeanJewishFund

EuropeanYouthForum

FondaciondelaMemoiredelaShoahISSNFoundaon

LegacyHeritageFundLimited

MASAIsrael

Other

ParcipaonFees

PrivateDonors

SafraFoundaon

StandWithUs

SwissFederaonofJewishCommunies

TurkishJewishCommunity

UNWatch

WorldHolocaustForum

WorldJewishCongress

WorldUnionofJewishStudents

0 40000 80000

AIPAC

AmericanJewishJoint

B'naiBrithGeneva

Edmond&Benjaminde

EuropeanJewishFund

Newton&RochelleBecker

ParcipaonFees

SafraFoundaon

UNWatch


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4)AmericanFriendsofEUJS

AmericanFriendsofEUJSisanonprofit501(c)(3)charitableorganisationformedtoraisesupportinthe

UnitedStatesfortheactivitiesoftheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudents.

AmericanFriendsofEUJSwasestablishedaspartofEUJSeffortstodiversifysourcesofincomesoasto

make theorganisation lessdependentontraditionaldonorsandto furtherpursuepartnershipswithAmericanfoundationsandprivatedonors.

AmericanFriendsofEUJSwaspossiblethankstothegenerosityandsupportoftheAmericanJewish

Committee.

D)PUBLICITY

1.EUJSintheMedia

More than 20 local and internationalnews agencies, including Turkish Daily

News, Hurriyet Daily News and the

Jewish Chronicle, reported on the

SummerUniversity2008.

David Harris, the Executive Director ofthe American Jewish Committee

mentionedEUJSsworkonhisJerusalem

Post blog several times throughout the

lasttwoyears.

TheJerusalemPostreportedandprintedthe speech by Sderot resident Liraz

MadmonyattheUnitedNationsHuman

RightsCouncilinJanuary2009.

The European Jewish Press coveredEUJSs meeting with Venezuelan

Ambassador,GermanMundarianHernadezinFebruary2009.

AnarticleondiscriminationandantiSemitismfromtheperspectiveofyoungpeoplewaswrittenbyEUJSchairpersonJonasKarpantschoffortheEuropeanYouthForumpublication Racismand

ItsImpactonYoungPeople.

Interview with Jonas Karpantschof, EUJS chair, in Jdisk Orientering the Jewish monthlymagazineinDenmark.

TheSwedishdailyVrldenIdagpublishedanarticleaboutthetraumaticexperienceoftheEUJSdelegationattheWorldConferenceAgainstRacism;citedwastheEUJSpublicationTheDurban

DiariesaswellasaninterviewwithformerChairJoelleFiss.

Over 200 news agencies, including Associated Press, Reuters, Jerusalem Post and HaaretzcoveredEUJSsexpulsionfromtheDurbanReviewConference.


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JonasKarpantschof, EUJS Chair, and Lili Dardashti, Executive Director, were interviewedandquoted on several occasions by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency during the Durban Review

Conference.

Pictures of EUJS delegates demonstrating against Ahmadinejad appeared in numerous newspapersandmagazinesacrosstheworldincludingLaRepubblica(Italy),Spiegel(Germany),ElPas

(Spain),LeMonde(France),JerusalemPostandmanyothers.PicturesofEUJSdelegatesduring

AhmadinejadaddressintheplenarywerewidelycoveredintheJerusalemPost.

EUJS delegate Zach Novetsky blogged daily on Jerusalem Post during the Durban ReviewConference.Theblogwas picked upby severalnewsagenciesprimarily intheUnitedStates.

OtherEUJSparticipantsbloggedonseveralothermediaoutlets.

PicturesfromtheStoptheOngoingGenocideinDarfur demonstrationwerecoveredonseveralonlinewebsitesincludingtheWallStreetJournal.

2.EUJSonlineCommunication

InthepasttwoyearsEUJShasputforthseveralpressreleasesunderliningitspoliticalviews.Ithasalso

releasedover15newsletterswithinformationaboutEUJSprogrammingaswellastheprogrammesof

itsmemberunions.

E)2010AGENDA

The 20082010 EUJS board has made sure that the agenda for the next generation of European

leadershipisdeterminedandoutlinedwellinadvance.

DEC.JAN.200910: TheDignityofDifference,InterfaithandinterculturalSymposiumon

humanrightsanddemocracy.

FEBRUARY2010: EUJS Seminar on bridge building with other European minorities and inparticularArmenians.

APRIL2010: EUJSSeminarontheincreaseofEuropeanextremism,Brussels

MAY2010: AJCAnnualMeeting,WashingtonDC

AUGUST2010: SummerUniversity

NOVEMBER2010: EUJSSeminarattheUnitedNationsHumanRightsCouncil


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HALFYEARREPORT2009

January February March April May Jun July 2009

I.EXPENDITURES

1.OPERATINGCOSTS

Secretariat 7502.17 5174.89 7267.89 5'361.97 7911.50 6'280.89 6087.98 45'587.29

2.EUJSPROGRAMCOSTS

TheInitativefora

NewEu.Voice 2'304.66 2'304.66

EUJSAmbassadors

totheUN 14'151.33 14'151.33

European

Encounters 214.96 214.96

EUJSAmbassadors

totheDRC 14'638.93 14'638.93

AmericanFriends

ofEUJS411.29 411.29

SU2009

Switzerland120.38 84.95 168.03 138.48 534.53 570.47 156'191.60 157'808.44

Website 900 900.00

Remaindersfrom

2008295.48 119.97 415.45

SubTotalEUJS

Programs827.15 14'236.28 382.99 14'777.41 1'554.50 570.47 158'496.26 190'845.06

3.OtherProgramCosts

AJCAnnual

Meeting 4'027.30 4'027.30

AIPACPolicyConf. 858.96 858.96

LondonConf.

Against

Antisemitism

160.00 160.00

ROI 180.94 180.94

WJCPlenary

Meeting406.25 406.25

SUBTotal 406.25 160.00 4'886.26 180.94 5'633.45

4.MEMBERSHIPFEES


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EYFAnnualFees 1'376.00 1'376.00

UnitedAnnualFee 55.00 55.00

SubTotal 1'376.00 55.00 1431.00

TOTALEXPENDITURES(1+2+3+4) 243'496.80

II.INCOME

2007Balance 46'495.26 46'495.26

AIPAC 935.00 935.00

AJC 3'900.00 2'290.18 1'050.00 7'240.18

JDC 4'320.00 4'320.00

BBI 1'000.00 1'000.00

BnaiBrithGeneva 766.04 766.04

CoE 3'000.00 6'919.00 16'000.00 7'778.50 33'697.50

E.&B.de

RothschildFound. 24'969.75 24'969.75

EC 17'568.54 17'568.54

Eu.JewishFund 3'633.94 3'633.94

LHFL 6'885.20 6'885.20

N.&R.Becker

CharitableTrust 7'537.80 7'537.80

Other 22.71 475.66 1'965.00 2'463.37

ParticipationFees 585.72 150.00 1'796.84 5'125.72 1'906.00 24'305.40 46'624.72 80'494.40

PrivateDonors 1'000.00 3'088.30 16'817.86 20'906.16

SafraFoundation 5'000.00 5'000.00

FSCI 6'763.56

UNWatch 6'432.14 6'432.14

WJC 412.79 412.79

SubTotal 55'003.69 562.79 9'196.62 26'014.66 19'891.00 87'796.53 79'056.34 277'521.63

TOTALINCOME 277'521.63

SURPLUS(III) 34'024.83


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FINANCIALREPORT2008


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FINANCIALREPORT2008


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G.INSTITUTIONALPARTNERS

JewishyouthandstudentsacrossEuropedonotliveinavacuum.Theyformanintegralpartof

the international Jewish community and have strong ties to the Jewish communities in the

UnitedStatesandIsrael.Theyalsoliveasfullandequalcitizensintheirrespectivecountries,ina

unitedEurope that is increasinglymulticultural,reflecting thevaluesofapluralist andpeace

seekingmindset.The objectiveofEUJStocater totheneedsof youngpeoplecanonlybe

accomplishedwiththeactivesupportandengagementofourpartnersinboththeJewishworld

andintheinstitutionsofaunitedEurope.EUJSstronglytreasuresthesepartnershipsbasedon

oursharedbeliefinthepowerofyouthasavehicleforpositivesocialchange.

1. TheAmericanJewishCommittee(AJC)

TheAmericanJewishCommittee,underthevisionaryleadershipofDavidHarris,haslongbeenaprimepartnerof,abelieverin,andasupporterofEUJS.ThespecialrelationshipofEUJSandAJCwas

cemented ina formal partnershipagreement signed inWashingtonD.C. inMarch 2005.TheAJC

helps tobridge the transatlanticdivide bysponsoring a fellowship program that,everysummer,

givesanAmericancollegestudenttheuniqueopportunitytospendnineweeksworkingattheEUJS

officeinBrusselspreparingforSummerU.WeareproudtohavehadDavidHarrisasaregularguest

at Summer U every year since 2002. Furthermore, for several years AJC has hosted an EUJS

delegation,comprisedofleadingstudentactivistsfromacrossEurope,atitsannualconferencein

Washington D.C. The continuous financial, logistical, and moral support of the AJC is crucial in

enablingEUJStofulfilitsmandateinsecuringtheJewishfutureinEurope.

2. TheAmericanJewishJointDistributionCommittee(JDC)

TheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudentsisalongtimepartneroftheJDC.Throughouttheyearsthe

twoorganisationshaveworkedtogethertofurtheroursharedvisionanddesireforvibrantJewish

lifeacrossEurope.

3. TheCouncilofEurope(COE)

TheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudentsisanaccreditedNGOoftheCouncilofEuropesEuropean

YouthFoundation.Incollaborationwiththisorganisation,EUJShasheldyearlyseminarsandstudy

sessionsoverthe past twentyyears. Suchprogramsemphasise thepromotionof youth policies,

minorityrights,interculturaldialogue,andhumanrightseducation.

4. TheEuropeanCommission

TheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudentsisanaccreditedorganisationwiththeDirectorateGeneral

forEducationandCultureandisa recipientofayearlygrantforadministrativesupportofferedto

themostactiveEuropeanyouthorganisations.


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5.TheEuropeanJewishCongress(EJC)

TheEuropeanUnionofJewishStudentsworkswiththeEJCtoensurethatthevoiceofJewishyouth

in Europe is prominently heard at all levels. EJC leaders have been guests at EUJS events on

numerousoccasions.GivenoursimilardemocraticandrepresentativestructuresinEurope,EUJSwill

continueworkingcloselywiththeEJCleadershiptoensureJewishcontinuityandprosperityonthe

continent. It is through the European Jewish Congress that EUJS also receives support from theWorldJewishCongress(WJC).

6. TheEuropeanYouthForum(EYF)

TheEuropeanYouthForum isthelargestEuropeanyouthorganisation,workingdirectlywith the

institutionsof theEuropeanUnionandpromoting youthempowermentamong itstwentymillion

members.AsanInternationalYouthNGO(IYNGO),EUJSisamemberoftheEuropeanYouthForum

and enthusiastically represents the interests of its Jewish members, as well as the interests ofminoritygroupsacrossEurope.

7. TheWorldUnionofJewishStudents(WUJS)

TheWorldUnionofJewishStudentsistheworldwideumbrellaforallJewishstudentorganisations.

EUJS isa constitutionalmemberoftheWUJSnetworkand isadirect partner intheirworldwide

activitiesthroughitspresenceofEuropeanJewishstudentrepresentativeson theWUJSexecutive

board.

WrittenbyJonasHerzbergKarpantschof

EditedbyMeravLevkowitz

DesignedbyArielleHerzog

Specialthanksto

OlgaIsrael,DavidNachfolgerandLiliDardashti


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+3226477279

www.eujs.org

eujs activity report 2008-2010

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