European General Assembly: Portrait of Contrasts and Unity

It was a stunning portrait of contrasts…over a thousand Jews from around the world flocking to Central Europe, a region where Jewish expression had been nearly eliminated as a consequence of Nazism and Communism.

This past May, Budapest hosted the historic third General Assembly (GA) of European Jewry in Central Europe for the first time. Nobody could have imagined that sixty years after the Nazis wiped out 600,000 of Hungary's 800,000 Jews, Budapest would be host to such a large Jewish event. The three-day event attracted Jews of every age and denomination from forty countries.

"At the close of the Holocaust, when JDC ran displaced persons camps serving needs of remnant survivors, no one would have though that 55 years later, European leaders would be standing so strong and united", said Gene Ribakoff, President of the JDC. "For 90 years, JDC has stood in solidarity with European Jewry and continues to do so today," Ribakoff concluded.

The magic of the General Assembly was palpable during the opening plenary held in the Intercontinental Hotel. Jewish delegates from Sweden and Kazakhstan, Israel and Malta, the United States and Poland, to name a few, packed the ballroom.

Delegates came together to network, create projects, socialize and learn, but the ultimate goal was to forge a new European Jewish identity.

The assembly, sponsored by the European Council of Jewish Communities and the Joint, coincided with the expansion of the European Union (EU). The inclusion of Hungary and nine other countries into the EU, signaled the final lowering of the Iron Curtain. It also erased the East-West divide between European Jewry, paving the way for a new era.

"Today we are witnessing an unprecedented renewal of European Jewish life and culture in a united Europe," Jonathan Joseph, the President of the European Council of Jewish Communities told delegates.

On a more sober note, every speaker, from the Israeli Ambassador to the Head of the European Jewish Congress, expressed concern about rising anti-Semitism and the conflation of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish sentiment. Thus, while European Jews welcome the benefits EU expansion offers, they are also concerned about the ramifications. Numerous discussions were held about how European Jewry will respond to these new challenges and opportunities.

The sense of hope for the future and for a newly democratic Europe was expressed most strongly at the close of the plenary. Survivors living in Budapest were escorted to the stage by young people supporting them on each side. This intergenerational group led the 1,000 people in singing "hallelujah" offering praise with one voice and heart, representing our past and future.

Ellen M. Heller, Chair of JDC's Central and East European Area Committee and JDC's nominee for President shares her impressions:

Ellen M. Heller: "The European Jewish General Assembly also provided the opportunity for young Jewish professionals and students from over 20 European countries to come together for their own 'GA'. Under the sponsorship of JDC, these young people came together for three days of workshops dealing with issues unique to them as young Jewish leaders. This was especially important as many of the Jewish communities in their home countries had almost been eliminated, not only from the ravages of World War II, but also from fifty years of Communism. As one young Jewish professional told me, 'When I go to synagogue for High Holidays, I am careful not to let my colleagues know why I'm not at work.' Another said, 'I couldn't think of wearing a Magen David in my office.' This youth convocation gave these young Jewish leaders the chance to discuss common pertinent issues and network as well. They are already making plans for their next meeting."

Srdjan, a participant in the youth seminar and leader of the Israeli Folk Dance Group from Serbia, shares his impressions:

Srdjan: "As a young Serbian Jew, living in an isolated part of Europe, the opportunity to participate in a large Youth Seminar, like the one organized at the European General Assembly in Budapest, made a big impact on me. The opportunity to become friends with peers from other European countries was invaluable. This Seminar was something different; we had a goal, which was to work in different media to express our Judaism and to present our creations in a performance for JDC Board members. The fact that we created something together, rather than just sitting in seminars, enabled all of us to connect on a much deeper level. Only if Jewish communities of this region stay together, we will survive for the future."

Click here to read a personal reflection about the JDC Board Mission to Serbia that happened after the GA.