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Future Generations

Jewish Diplomacy and Future Generations

From the 5th to the 7th of February a seminar entitled "Jewish Diplomacy: Dreams, Dilemmas and Decisions" took place in Jerusalem under the auspices of the WJC's Future Generations division. The initiative brought together a group of twenty five highly motivated young activists, initially selected jointly by the WJC's regional offices and Jewish communities and approved by the WJC Future Generation division. The participants came from different continents and countries: US, Canada, Australia, Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, South Africa, Sweden and Uruguay, Ukraine, Georgia and Israel.

The aim of the seminar - first of a series - arose out of the need to involve a larger number of politically oriented young people, aged 26 - 40, in the public life of their communities, in Jewish organizations and in international organizations such as the WJC, UN, UNESCO, OSCE etc. The group of young professionals were addressed by various speakers as well as by the senior WJC leadership, among them WJC President Edgar M. Bronfman, Chairman of the WJC Policy Council Rabbi Israel Singer and WJC Secretary General Mr. Stephen Herbits. Also WJC Director of International organizations Mr. Shai Franklin and WJC Director of Communications Mr.Avner Tavori spoke about their role and opportunities for involvement for young Jewish professionals. In a session devoted to the dialogue with the young participants, Edgar M. Bronfman expressed the strong need for young voices to be heard and listened while at a different meeting, Dr. Rabbi Israel Singer spoke about Global Tendencies in World Jewry - Past, Present and Future. Discussions and questions among the group continued in a meeting with the Israeli WJC sponsored "Aley Tzameret" program participants. WJC Secretary General Stephen Herbits addressed the group and expressed his gratitude for their interest in the WJC diplomatic activity "which will continue", he said, "only thanks to the support of young intellectuals as yourselves".

The seminar was followed by the WJC Governing Board where all young professionals took part in, some with full voting rights as country representatives and future generations representatives.

The twenty five participants are all driven by a "positive and proactive approach" toward being Jews, saying that it is important not to forget the past but not less important to look to the future, to be an example and to maintain a memory of the Holocaust that can be used as an impulse to act at an humanitarian level in a local and global way.

As part of the WJC's Future Generation "Jewish Diplomacy " initiative, the young participants will meet again and will take part in similar seminars in their local regions. They will participate in international events such as the coming International Red Cross Conventio in Geneva (June 21 -22) for the recognition of "Magen David Adom" as additional emblem alongside the red cross and red crescent and the UN General Assembly to take place in NY in September 2006. Using the WJC as a source of support, these young Jewish leaders will be given the opportunity to take responsibility, engage in dialogue and become actively involved in Jewish matters. They will be offered the chance to attend meetings of intermediate government or direct government personnel, to write up for WJC purposes and to participate in lectures and seminars similar to the one that just took place in Jerusalem.

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