BRUSSELS – The
World Jewish Congress (WJC), in partnership with the European Union of Jewish
Students (EUJS) and the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion
of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), convened at the WJC Brussels office on
Thursday to launch The Thrive – Empowering Jewish Communities Project, which seeks
to elevate the visibility of Jewish heritage while increasing awareness of
Jewish culture, traditions, and diversity across Europe.
The meeting reiterated WJC’s
commitment to empower and build the capacity of national Jewish communities to
address the needs and represent the interests of their members, including in
the fight against antisemitism and the mainstreaming of gender equality.
Under the Thrive Project, WJC,
EUJS and AEPJ each pledged to continue their efforts of continuously
implementing the EU
Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life
through the following means:
- Establishing the Community Empowerment Tracker, a comprehensive assessment of the needs of circa 20 European Jewish communities, with a subsequent report.
- Publishing a policy paper on solidifying and localizing the concept of “fostering Jewish life” to support policymakers in the implementation of the commitments of the Strategy.
- Implementing a set of capacity-building activities for Jewish communities, including four annual regional trainings and one annual international networking space.
- Developing a Toolkit for Community Empowerment.
- Initiating a social media campaign and forming a scientific committee to assist participants in aligning with UNESCO’s guidelines.
- Creating the Intangible Jewish Heritage Hub—a virtual and open-ended exhibition of Jewish culture and traditions that will showcase the richness and diversity of European Jewry and will be hosted under the auspices of the European Days of Jewish Culture.
WJC’s Executive Director of
Community Relations, Maya Cimeša Samokovlija, stated, “In these
difficult times for Jewish communities worldwide, the preservation of our
heritage is not merely a matter of commemorating the past; it is about
establishing a future in which our diverse narratives are celebrated and
continue to motivate. The Thrive Project is a collective effort to guarantee
that Jewish culture, heritage, and Jewish history continue to be visible and
vibrant for future generations.”
By engaging Jewish
communities, youth organizations, policymakers, and cultural heritage
practitioners, the project advances shared EU and Jewish community objectives,
combating antisemitism and hate while promoting diversity, inclusion, and the
preservation of Jewish life.
This collaborative approach equips policymakers with the tools to foster Jewish life in Europe while making
Jewish heritage more accessible and visible globally. The Thrive project is supported
by the European Union’s Citizens,
Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program.
