December 16, 2010 / 8 Tevet 5771

Thirty-five young Jewish adults from Central and Eastern Europe and Israel recently met in Krakow as part of an innovative project to strengthen and build their connection to Judaism, Israel and to Jewish Peoplehood.

The miNYanim Central European Seminar took place in Krakow, Poland, from November 12-14, 2010. The participants – in their 20s and early 30s – most of them are graduates of Masa Israel and Taglit Birthright Israel from Hungary, Germany, Poland and Bulgaria – as well as Israelis living in Europe. 

The project is a two-year initiative supported by the UJA Federation of New York, the Jewish Agency, and the Israeli Cultural Institute in Budapest to give young Jews in Europe the tools they need connect with each other and with their Jewish heritage.

In addition to running regular lectures, discussions, workshops, and interactive learning sessions in their home communities, the young leaders come together as a larger group four times a year. In August, the entire group will spend a week in Israel.

"What we are doing is significant because we are giving these young people from different countries in Europe the opportunity to take responsibility to lead their own Jewish communities back home and also to forge connections with each other and create community. In this way they will be stronger in their connection to Judaism and to Israel," said Eran Eran El-Bar , Director of  Educational Activities  - The Jewish Agency for Israel, Central/Eastern Europe region.