More than 60 European Jewish leaders representing 30 communities in 26 countries traveled to Israel in June for Stronger Together, a first-of-its-kind JDC gathering.

The four-day seminar was an opportunity for communal professionals and lay leaders to learn from each other and from scholars and rabbis like Micah Goodman, Rabbi Tamar Elad-Appelbaum, Rabbi Donniel Hartman, and more. The group also visited JDC programs in Ashkelon, Lod, Tel Aviv, and Ofakim to understand the organization’s unique model in Israel and engage with the complexity of life in the country after the Oct. 7 attacks.

“JDC is our partner, and when we feel that we have someone behind us to support us, it gives us strength to continue,” said Taly Mair, director of the Athens Jewish community. “I am with Israel in this struggle, and I really want to come back to Greece and tell my community that we are strong, we continue to fight, and we are resilient.” The event was an opportunity to hear directly from European Jewish changemakers — both in countries where the organization has worked for decades and in emerging communities across the continent.

It’s very important for us to listen to our partners, not only for them to listen to us.

What we are trying to show through this gathering is that we can help these communities strategically, opening them to new realities and helping them to turn challenges into opportunities.”

Julia Dandolova

JDC Director of Community Engagement
and Programming (Europe, Africa, and Asia)

Jewish changemakers

Empowering European Jewish Changemakers