BRUSSELS – The World Jewish Congress (WJC), in partnership with the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) and the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), convened at the WJC Brussels office on Thursday to launch The Thrive – Empowering Jewish Communities Project, which seeks to elevate the visibility of Jewish heritage while increasing awareness of Jewish culture, traditions, and diversity across Europe.
The meeting reiterated WJC’s commitment to empower and build the capacity of national Jewish communities to address the needs and represent the interests of their members, including in the fight against antisemitism and the mainstreaming of gender equality.
Under the Thrive Project, WJC, EUJS and AEPJ each pledged to continue their efforts of continuously implementing the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life through the following means:
- Establishing the Community Empowerment Tracker, a comprehensive assessment of the needs of circa 20 European Jewish communities, with a subsequent report.
- Publishing a policy paper on solidifying and localizing the concept of “fostering Jewish life” to support policymakers in the implementation of the commitments of the Strategy.
- Implementing a set of capacity-building activities for Jewish communities, including four annual regional trainings and one annual international networking space.
- Developing a Toolkit for Community Empowerment.
- Initiating a social media campaign and forming a scientific committee to assist participants in aligning with UNESCO’s guidelines.
- Creating the Intangible Jewish Heritage Hub—a virtual and open-ended exhibition of Jewish culture and traditions that will showcase the richness and diversity of European Jewry and will be hosted under the auspices of the European Days of Jewish Culture.
WJC’s Executive Director of Community Relations, Maya Cimeša Samokovlija, stated, “In these difficult times for Jewish communities worldwide, the preservation of our heritage is not merely a matter of commemorating the past; it is about establishing a future in which our diverse narratives are celebrated and continue to motivate. The Thrive Project is a collective effort to guarantee that Jewish culture, heritage, and Jewish history continue to be visible and vibrant for future generations.”
By engaging Jewish communities, youth organizations, policymakers, and cultural heritage practitioners, the project advances shared EU and Jewish community objectives, combating antisemitism and hate while promoting diversity, inclusion, and the preservation of Jewish life.
This collaborative approach equips policymakers with the tools to foster Jewish life in Europe while making Jewish heritage more accessible and visible globally. The Thrive project is supported by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program.
