AJCommittee Cosponsors Conference On The Future Of European Jewry

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 27 June 1997

Hundreds of prominent Jewish leaders from the fields of politics, academia, the media, communal affairs - representing more than thirty countries -- will gather in Strasbourg, France, June 29 through July 1, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing Jews throughout Europe.

The Second International Conference on Planning for the Future of European Jewry is sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, the European Council of Jewish Communities, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the Fonds Social Juif Unifie.

The program, entitled "Strengthening Jewish Life in Europe," will examine such critical issues as: European Jewish Identities for the 21st Century; The Realities of Jewish Life - Polarization and Pluralism; Right-Wing Populist Parties - Assessing and Combating the Threat; Affiliation, Status and Gender; Teaching Jewish Values and Heritage - Initiatives in Informal Education; Managing Change in the Community and Strategic Planning; The Economics of the Jewish Community in a Changing Social Environment; Legacies of the Holocaust in Europe; the Structure of European Jewish Institutions and Representation of Jewish Interests to Political and Social Institutions; Jewish Culture in Europe - Its role and Its Value For Jewish Identity; Virtual Communities - The Opportunities Created by the Information Society with Special Reference to Small Communities; and The Relevance and Meaning of Zionism in Europe Today and Israel-Diaspora Relations.

The three-day conference is being held under the auspices of Daniel Tarschys, Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Among the participants will be: Professor Shlomo Avineri (Israel), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Rabbi Andrew Baker (USA), Director of European Affairs, AJC; Dr. Stanislaw Krajewski (Poland), Chairman, Jewish Forum in Poland and AJC Consultant; Dr. Tomas Kraus (Czech Republic), Executive Director, Federation of Jewish Communities in the Czech Republic; Antony Lerman (United Kingdom), Executive Director, Institute for Jewish Policy Research; Peter Levy (United Kingdom), Chairman, Institute for Jewish Policy Research; Dr. Diano Pinto (Italy), Consultant to the Political Directorate, Council of Europe; Bruce M. Ramer (USA), Chair, Board of Governors, AJC; Dr. David Singer (USA), Director of Research and Publications, AJC; Rabbi Abraham Soetendorp (The Netherlands), Liberal Jewish Congregation of The Hague; and Josef Zisels (Ukraine), Chairman, Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org