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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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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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EuropeanUnionofJewishStudents3AvenueAntoineDepage
1050Brussels,Belgium
+3226477279
www.eujs.org