ANTWERP, BELGIUM – WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps member Jenny Aharon called for the Jewish world to unite and create a shared space for its diversity during a Jewish Unity Salon hosted by the Forum of Jewish Organizations (FJO) in Belgium last week.
The event was inspired by WJC’s Jewish Leadership Bridge for the Future in Israel, which brought together over 250 Jewish leaders from the Diaspora and Israel last month. Similarly, the Belgium event brought together members of the Jewish community to discuss the future of the Jewish people and the Jewish State.
“When we prioritize Jewish unity, we create a space where diverse perspectives converge, fostering understanding, empathy, and meaningful dialogue,” Jenny Aharon, WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps.
Co-Presidents of the Forum of Jewish Organizations in Antwerp, Regina Suchowolski-Sluszny and Philippe Scharf, delivered opening remarks stressing the importance striving for Jewish unity and praising WJC for its leadership on the issues.
“It is imperative that we keep striving for Jewish unity, this WJC initiative gives us the tools to do so,“ said Regina Suchowolski-Sluszny.
“Judaism is what binds us together as a people. We should enhance and strengthen that element within and among us, whether it is religiously, traditionally, or culturally,” said Philippe Scharf.
The discussions covered a variety of topics including the Jewish people’s common denominators, and how to strengthen the community by bridging gaps between individuals of different backgrounds, political leanings, religious beliefs, and nationalities.
The participants included Shomre Hadas President and Forum of Jewish Organizations Committee Member Jean-Jacques Schreiber, Forum of Jewish Organizations Committee Member Executive Assistant Laure Lachman and Coordinating Committee of Belgian Jewish Organizations and member of the WJC Jewish Diplomatic Corps Eitan Bergman.