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| Young Balkan Jews given identity boost in Greece
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More than 300 young Jews from the Balkans and Black Sea region in Hanioti
Photo: EJP
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ATHENS (EJP) --- More than 300 young Jewish adults from the Balkans and Black Sea region of the former Soviet Union converged on the Greek resort of Hanioti, in Chalkidiki, last month for a three-day retreat aimed at creating a regional community identity.
The event, which took place from 11- 15 May, was part of the Balkan-Black Sea Gesher initiative, developed by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee.
During their time in Hanioti participants attended identity workshops, discussions on living as a minority as well as a special screening of the movie "Munich" which covers the aftermath of the terrorist attack on Israel's participants in the 1972 Olympics.
Speaking to EJP before the event began, the JDC's Yair Kamaisky, program coordinator, stressed the importance of providing the opportunity for participants who come from small Jewish communities to socialize with one another and ultimately create a regional Jewish community.
"The idea is to have fun, but also have spiritual and identity building at the same time," Kamaiski said. "We want people to start thinking regionally. For most people, the community they live in is small, and that becomes boring."
International flavour
Participants came from communities as far and wide as Bulgaria, Greece, Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Turkey and Romania.
The event was open to Jews from all religious backgrounds, so there were three types of Friday night Shabbat services around the pool – Orthodox, alternative and women only - allowing everybody to choose according to their own taste.
Common songs, or those specific to each country, were later heard at the communal table, in the shining light of the candles floating on the water of the pool.
Reflecting on the success of the event Kamaisky paid tribute to his team of organisers: “This was the first time I worked with a team having representatives from all the countries, where the decisions were taken democratically. They coordinated this programme, I was just a counselor behind them.”
Looking to the future he added: “We plan to bring more and more people to the Gesher in the future, and I think that more and more people are willing to participate.”
Positive energy
Muki Jankelowitz, an Israeli professor involved in the Buncher, Black Sea Gesher and Birthright programs developed by the JDC, led two discussion groups about the relationship between the Diaspora and Israel.
At the end of the programme, he said: “It is touching to see 300 young Jews together anywhere in the world, especially in this area, with youngsters coming from countries where the number of Jews today is very small.
“There is a positive energy coming from this group. I really like the fact that there is a regional concept, not just an idea to reunite a group from two or three countries”.
Israel Sabag, the young Deputy Director of the Joint for Romania, was among the participants all along the program.
“The fact that 300 youngsters from eight countries in the region can meet is a real miracle. I can only think of the Kabbalat Shabbat, when I saw all of them together, and one could see that all these youngsters have a common future.
This fifth Balkan-Black Sea Gesher initiative is only one of a number of three annual conferences organised by the JDC.
Gesher is also planning a family retreat in Istanbul this July and a business conference, tentatively scheduled for the winter in Romania.
The family retreat will focus on Jewish parenting and building family-focused community programs that are both fun and educational. The business Gesher will aim to establish a network for fund raising and community organization.
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