European Council of Jewish Communities

Founded in 1968 as a connection between Eastern and Western Europe, the European Council of Jewish Communal Services (ECJCS) supported 15 national representations in the areas of education, social welfare, and culture. Then the dramatic political changes at the beginning of the nineteen-nineties and the European reunification process brought with them its reorganization as the European Council of Jewish Communities (ECJC). By the year 2000 it had grown from 19 to 58 members from 37 countries.

In addition to the traditional tasks such as education, social welfare, and culture, the ECJC now increasingly directs its focus towards the community growth. With leadership training and regional programs it has set new goals for the protection of the Jewish heritage. Another important goal is its commitment to the restitution payments to the Holocaust victims. In this effort it has found an excellent partner in the JDC.

The end of the Cold War signaled a new era in Europe and for the European Jewry a new age began. The Iron Curtain no longer separates the continent. The artificial separation between free Jews and Jews living under the suppression of totalitarian regimes has been eliminated. New freedoms arise in Europe and new opportunities for the resurgence of a Jewish culture awaken.

In most recent times the ECJC increasingly has looked towards representing the European Jewry on an international level. In the World Jewish Restitution Organization it is holding one seat, another one in the Claims Conference. It furthermore cultivates close contacts with the most important US-American Jewish associations, such as the American Jewish Committee, American Joint (JDC), the Conference of Presidents, the United Jewish Communities (UJC), the European Conference of Rabbis, as well as B'nai B'rith International and Agudat Israel.

www.ecjc.org

Prof. Alfred Donath
Speech given at the opening of the 3rd presidents conference of the European Council of Jewish Communities