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Defining the "New Europe": Weinberg Danube Leadership Retreat
Over four days including Shavuot, 125 young people from 14 different countries participated in a Jewish retreat in Baden, Austria, 60 kilometers from Vienna. The Students and Young Adults Institute, an annual event of JDC's Weinberg Danube Region, is designed to unite students and young adults who are open to new and different multicultural Jewish experiences and interested in learning more about their Jewish identity. Coming together for a long weekend of studying and celebration, this "new generation" of Jews hailed from countries which were traditionally separated between East and West, divided by walls and distinct governing policies.
Carla, a Viennese participant who has a Masters degree in banking and administration, remarked that this event was unique since it connected people from communities that were disconnected for decades. "The contents and the level of the sessions were remarkable," she said. "I do believe that these types of events will shake our local leadership to organize more things in this framework!" Most remarkable, against the backdrop of the changing face of Europe, is that the entire weekend was organized by a team of 15 young adult volunteers — emerging leaders in the region, whose core countries include Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland. The initiative taken by this group of individuals to plan and execute their own engaging program attests to JDC's ongoing work in community and leadership development in Europe. Jorge, JDC Country Director for Hungary & Bulgaria observed: "JDC's role in empowering and developing the leadership of this region is already showing tremendous results in this new cadre of young people who are not just committed to their own communities, but to the continuity of the European and global Jewish community." The program included 25 different sessions and debates, as well as workshops on Jewish History, dance, photography and Jewish films, a social event on Friday night and an all-night study session for Shavuot, modeled on the Jewish tradition of celebrating the receipt of the Torah by learning from it through the night. "The team of East and West came together as equals, in line with the values that we study on Shavuot," said Jorge. "That is the reason young Europeans are coming together — to define the values that they are bringing to the new Europe — values of justice and how to live as a Jew today." For Danica, a young interpreter born in Slovakia who now lives in Vienna, the Danube Weinberg Shavuot seminar was her first experience organizing an event as a young leader. After attending a leadership seminar in Bratislava in February, she became actively engaged and part of the organizing committee. "I am so grateful for having been inspired to do something for others," she shared at the conclusion of the event. Danica looks forward to being part of an international group of leaders organizing regional projects for Jews in Central Europe. Max, a young student from Aachen, Germany, was so impressed with the weekend in Baden that he wants the board of his home community to share in it as well. "These types of seminars show us a new model that combines a deep learning on Jewish topics, a stimulating social experience, a Jewish atmosphere celebrating Shavuot and Shabbat, and attractive educational topics that meet today's needs of European students and young professionals," he says. These topics included human rights, Jewish ethics, women's role in Jewish history, leadership from a Jewish perspective, modern interpretations of traditional Jewish texts, challenges to European young Jewish professionals, and strategies for cultivating young philanthropists. Acknowledging the diversity of the participants and their respective communities, the retreat was set up in a pluralistic way with a focus on bringing about enriching dialogues between participants from the various countries. Over the course of the weekend, meetings were also held with young leaders from the region aimed at strengthening cooperation between them and building a common calendar to expedite the process of integration between Eastern and Western communities. The Danube Weinberg Region, facilitated by JDC with sponsorship from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, inaugurated its regional events with the Hanukkah Caravan in 2004. Traveling from city to city and country to country, from Budapest to Belgrade and Novisad to Vienna, a JDC-facilitated group of madrichim, dancers and other performers effectively gave these diverse communities the sensation that they were linked together by the spirit of the holiday. "It had such a good impact going to different communities," observed Jorge. "It was so successful, in fact, that it generated many other events." Last fall, a regional convention was held in Prague and activities began to develop along different tracks, such as events for people involved in environmental issues. Regional meetings are now organized on a monthly basis in different communities. "We are really moving towards creating one Jewish family," says Jorge, noting that this is particularly important in communities where critical mass is low. "Bratislava, Budapest and Vienna are two hours from each other by car or train — we are adapting to this reality by making one community for one people." June 2006 |
