From June 9 to 11, 2024, I had the honor of representing the Jewish Youth of Greece (ENE) at the AJC World Congress in Washington. This important event brought together over 2.000 Jewish leaders and supporters from more than 50 countries, providing an invaluable opportunity for networking and the exchange of ideas.
The Importance of Our Participation
Our participation* in the AJC World Congress highlights the importance of the Greek Jewish community in global Jewish development. We were part of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) delegation, along with 30 other representatives from Jewish youth from across Europe, showcasing our dedication to promoting a better future for Jews around the world.
*The Greek community was represented by the General Secretary of the Israelite Community of Athens, Mrs. Delia Alkhanati and by Eliezer Solomon Kampelis, president of the Jewish Youth of Greece.
Pre-Conference: AJC Shabbaton
Before the main conference, the EUJS delegation participated in the AJC Shabbaton, a gathering that gave us the opportunity to connect with young Jews from around the world and engage in important discussions. A notable workshop was "Tough Conversations: Peer to Peer," organized by AJC Director of University Affairs, Moshe Lencer. This workshop equipped us with skills to manage challenges within our communities. Additionally, we had the opportunity to meet AJC CEO Ted Deutch and talk to him about our communities.
Main Moments of the Conference
The Conference began with a prayer for the victims of the war after October 7. This was followed by the testimony of the parents of an American-Israeli hostage, Omer Neutra, whose fate along with the fate of 120 other hostages is in the hands of the terrorist organization Hamas.
The presence of Zvi and Dorit Reder, a volunteer ambulance driver and a Magen David Adom nurse, who continued to save lives despite losing their son to terrorists, was shocking and exemplary. Their story embodied courage and self-sacrifice.
Keynote Speakers' Messages
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, emphasized AJC's critical role in supporting Diaspora Jewish communities and defending Zionism. Among the speakers was Ariela Agosin, President of the Jewish Community of Chile, who spoke about the particular rise of anti-Semitism in her country.
The Important Contribution of Emma Hallali and EUJS
A highlight of the conference was the contribution of Emma Hallali, President of EUJS. Through her panel speech, AJC and the entire audience had the opportunity to perceive the important presence and action of Jewish communities and organizations in Europe and their dedication for a better future. Ms. Hallali expressed her dismay at the attack on Jewish students worldwide at numerous universities, but also her determination to mobilize and regroup young people to counter this emerging threat.
Tackling Anti-Semitism
Aviva Klompas and Michael Rapaport spoke about defending Israel on social media. Barak Sella, of Brandeis University, emphasized the importance of diaspora support for Israel.
Honorary Awards and Exciting Testimonials
The Sharon Green Award for Jewish Student Advocacy at Universities was accepted by Ms. Noa Fay and Ms. Hanna Veiler. The former, a Columbia student for Hillel International, said among other things that for every Jewish friend she lost, she gained two friends of Zionism through her group's struggle. The second emphasized on behalf of the German Student Union (JSUD) that it will not let October 7th divide us and cost the existence of the state of Israel, the state of all Jews.
The African-American congressman, Mr. Ritchie Torres, who has practically shown his support in the fight against anti-Semitism, emphasized: "you don't have to be Jewish to be against anti-Semitism, just like you don't have to be black or gay to support them"! Finally, he said that hope is the anthem of the Jewish people and with that in mind let's all say together that "we will dance again"!
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Konstantinos Kombos, spoke about Cyprus' support for Israel and its commitment to fighting the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement.
Keynotes included presentations by Ben Good, from Meta, and Shimon Shmooley, from Google, on countering anti-Semitism through technology. Nurit Canetti spoke about the challenges faced by Israeli journalists.
Jake Sullivan, US National Security Adviser, reaffirmed the Biden administration's commitment to support Israel.
Conclusion
The AJC World Conference was a reminder of the importance of Jewish unity and the need to work together for a brighter future. Armed with knowledge and connections, we can advance the defense of Jews worldwide. Kol Israel arevim ze laze! Am Israel Hi!
