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Changing the Jewish Future of Europe at Weinberg Black Sea Gesher Program
For three days in May, over 300 young Jewish leaders from the corners of Serbia to the mountains of Transylvania have been meeting in Halkidiki, Greece to celebrate their Judaism, strengthen their Jewish identity in this "New Europe" and acquire tools to become leaders in their respective communities. The catalyst behind this activity is the Weinberg Black Sea Gesher Institute.
As recently as six years ago, small Jewish communities in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Africa and Asia, were relatively isolated from each other and, consequently, young people had few chances to meet their counterparts. JDC, recognizing this gap, offered a solution: The Weinberg Black Sea Gesher Program. In partnership with local communities, JDC developed institutes to facilitate networking, sharing of information and leadership development. Havva, a Turkish participant, summarizes the group’s achievements as follows: "The youth in Turkey were all but isolated. Today I feel that we are integrating with our neighboring communities. This multiplies our possibilities tremendously in running more projects together. It was a must for us to start thinking of our communities beyond geographical borders." This trend has made significant headway, with effects reverberating in even the remotest communities. Not only have the numbers attending the institutes increased every year, but now the participants themselves, rather than JDC, are organizing the events. One of the key engines behind this transformation is Alek, 26, a physician from Sofia, Bulgaria who is now the Vice-president of the Jewish community of Bulgaria. 
As a student, Alek started to attend the events organized by the Black Sea Gesher Region out of sheer curiosity. "It was interesting to meet with young Jews from other countries," he recalls. He had no way of knowing that by the time he received his MD, he would also be dedicating himself to promoting Jewish life in Bulgaria. Now in the forefront of Jewish renewal in that city, Alek has also taken on a leadership role in the Black Sea Gesher Region, organizing regular meetings and events with his counterparts from other countries. "These activities provide unique opportunities for synergy and joint ventures," Alek says. "They also expand our social circle a great deal." Alek’s story is an example of how the Weinberg Black Sea Gesher Program is changing people’s lives while transforming the Jewish communal landscape. May 2006 |
