User:EthanGBergman/sandbox

= European Jewish Association = The European Jewish Association (EJA) is a non-profit organization working closely with EU institutions, various Jewish communities and media publications, in Europe to represent Jewish issues and ensure the fostering of Jewish life for the next generation in Europe from Ireland to Azerbaijan. Founded in 2007, the EJA is the largest Jewish umbrella federation in Europe and works through various partners whilst holding permanent representations and offices in Belgium, France, Germany and Israel. The organisation is mainly involved in the spheres of politics, journalism, humanitarianism and education as an interest groups and advocacy group.

History
Created in 2007, with offices in Belgium, Germany, France and Israel, the European Jewish Association advocates for and represents Jewish communities in Europe. It is the largest umbrella organisation assisting other Jewish institutions throughout the continent. Since its inception, the organisation's founder and Chairman, Rabbi Menachem Margolin has aimed to create a wide network of professionals, decision-makers, community leaders, academics, media experts, journalists and more with the goal of fighting for, strengthening and supporting the interests of Jewish communities all across Europe. The goals of the European Jewish Association (EJA) are achieved through collaboration and planning of the organisation's advisory board consisting of numerous community presidents, politicians and NGOs from across Europe.

Overview
Ranking among the most active Jewish organisations in Europe, The EJA aims to advocate for freedom of religion and combatting antisemitism through its network of support from among the leaders of European civil society, inter-religious leaders and clergy, governments, parliamentarians and diplomats. In addition, the organisation also focuses on humanitarian work. Based in the political heart of the European Union – Brussels, the EJA operates and coordinates activities for hundreds of Jewish communities throughout the continent and for European Jewry as a whole. By working through the framework of challenges and solutions, the organisation cooperates with partners, journalists and politicians to represent Jewish issues in Europe and to improve the livelihood and security of Jewish communities in Europe.

Objectives
The main goals of the organisation are to advocate for freedom of religion and combating antisemitism throughout Europe. In addition, the EJA represents Jewish communities in their endeavours and engages decision-makers dealing with topics sensitive to their communities. Those goals are pursued through a variety of projects, educational programs and several other activities.

Among its central objectives for the year of 2020, the European Jewish Association has been occupied to increase education on Judaism and Jewish history, particularly the atrocities of the Holocaust, in educational institutes of Europe with the aim of combating antisemitism. Moreover, the organisation constantly pushes for tougher laws on Jewish stereotyping as well as the sale of Nazi memorabilia. Other goals include assisting European Jewish communities in their organisation, fundraising, preparedness for disasters and any other challenges these communities might face.

European curriculum and textbook project against antisemitism
Through this project, the European Jewish Association closely works with decision-makers all across Europe to ensure that Jewish history and Jewish communities are accurately portrayed in educational materials, aiming to ensure proper education on the matter and combat antisemitism in future generations.

Formation of Jewish community leaders
The EJA organises regular boot-camps for Jewish and non-Jewish youth as to bridge the divides between individuals and Jewish identity alongside activism and professional life in Jewish community representations. Those consist of two-day courses in a quarterly basis where young Jewish leaders from all over Europe can acquire tools to better perform their tasks and become community leaders and activists. This including seminars on varying Jewish topics, workshops on journalism and debating, media relations, networking opportunities and professional opportunities to maintain strong communities for next generations.

The EJA operates with a young Diplomatic Council. The goal is the selective formation of young Jewish activists by further introducing Jewish youth to the world of journalism and political events whilst providing such individuals with formative experiences and tools for the establishment and empowerment of their own communities. The organisation believes that training in public speaking, journalism, diplomacy and marketing prepare Jewish students to face varying issues on European campuses.

Antisemitism hotline & Online hate campaign
Provides Jews all over Europe with a central resource to report antisemitic attacks. This can be done via WhatsApp or the organisation's website and can be done in a completely anonymous way to safeguard the identity of people suffering from these attacks. An additional tool established by the organisation is #GoFlagYourself, aiming to motivate individuals to report online hatred directly to the organisation as to ensure 'faster and efficient' monitoring and handling of hate speech activities across platforms with whom the EJA has tightened relations with and holds an elevated flagger status (i.e. Google, Meta, YouTube).

Political & educational delegations
In order to keep the memory of the people slaughtered by the Nazi regime, the European Jewish Association hosts a symposium for Ministers, Parliamentarians and Diplomats from all over Europe in Auschwitz-Birkenau and Babyn Yar. By reminding leaders of the consequences of hate and antisemitism, the European Jewish Association aims to continue its fight against its more modern versions and inspire educators and officials to improve Holocaust education and the education or image concerning Jews.

Humanitarian aid & community assistance
The organisation started establishing medical equipment lending centres with the aim to assist communities with a shortage of medical and rehabilitative equipment as well as other services for the home-bound and elderly patients. During the Covid pandemic, the EJA has provided financial assistance to smaller communities and organised charity events for the less fortunate and disabled populations in lesser-developed regions of Europe, such as in certain parts of East Europe and the Caucasus. In the last few years, the EJA has aided financially and materially to construct Mikveot and restore synagogues and community homes in endangered communities as to ensure the thriving of Jewish life across Eastern Europe. Moreover, cultural and elements of heritage are to be preserved in the eyes of the EJA. Therefore, the organisation is incredibly determined to push for Holocaust education, the banning of Nazi memorabilia and the construction of dozens of monuments for mass graves dating from the Holocaust.

Regarding community memorials, the EJA is an initiator of the student-led Make Their Memory Shine movement. The organisation sponsors clean-up campaigns of Stolpersteine across Europe, aids in the placement of new memorials and cooperates with the Stolpersteine foundation and institutions to increase the spread of Stolpersteine and Holocaust awareness alongside cultural tolerance through student clean-ups and similar projects inside the Make Their Memory Shine framework.

The EJA offers a scholarship program for 300 young Jewish people from disadvantaged backgrounds who are committed to higher education. The Campus is located in Austria at the Lauder Business School (LBS) and the EJA is dedicated to developing a network of student leaders, professionals and volunteers who will eventually serve as lay leaders in their communities.

Campaign against Nazi memorabilia
In its fight against antisemitism, the European Jewish Association takes a solid stance against the auctions of Nazi memorabilia. By avoiding the sale and glorification of these objects at auction houses from Germany to Croatia or on online marketplaces, the organisation aims to effectively assist in eradicating antisemitism and the fetishization of Nazi ideology and the Holocaust.

#NotOnMyWatch
This is a yearly program that takes place during the International Holocaust Remembrance Day urging communities, politicians, educators and the civil society at large to remember the crimes of the Nazi regime during the Holocaust committed not only against the Jewish people, but also against all the minorities and groups who were heavily persecuted by that regime. This allows the participants to take a stand and assure the horrors seen in the Holocaust will never happen again whilst portraying their message and motivating others on social platforms.

Affiliated organisations
Under its umbrella, there are more than 100 communities that often cooperate with the EJA for events, holidays, education, advocacy and charity. These communities receive resources and regular holiday packages from the EJA.

The European Jewish Association also engages in external cooperation with other Jewish organisations and other types of organisations such as the International March of the Living, Simon Wiesenthal Center, B'nai B'rith Europe, Campaign Against Antisemitism and Consistoire Central Israélite de France.

Media partners
The EJA engages with European, and external, media in order to raise awareness on certain issues and events regarding Jewish life.


 * European Jewish Press: A news and information service, launched in 2015 providing up-to-date and reliable news reports about European Jewry and topics of concern to European Jewish communities.


 * JNews: A web-magazine dedicated to analysis of world news under Jewish optics.
 * Europe Israel Press Association: An organisation providing information, briefings and first-hand media trips about Israel and the Middle East.

Resource partners
The EJA works with its partners to improve Jewish education and documentation concerning the Holocaust whilst sponsoring various other projects also regarding Israel advocacy.


 * European International Tolerance Center: It is a non-governmental organisation promoting scientific and educational research activities related to the history of the Holocaust and contemporary instances of issues of tolerance. It aims to contribute to the dialogue between nations in order to prevent conflicts.


 * European Jewish Study Network: Is an organisation offering introduction to Jewish learning and a memorable journey through Jewish life to individuals and communities in Europe. Through immersive study experiences and world-class events, EJSN promotes discovery, inspires pride and connects Jewish communities throughout the continent.


 * European Jewish Library: Is a library for researchers, historians or curious individuals focused on providing access to Jewish literature.


 * European Jewish Development Fund: Is a source of centralised funding to projects that promote Jewish culture, ensure the continuity of tradition, offer aid to the destitute and provides a unified voice to combat Antisemitism, advocate for Israel and champion moral values and ideals.

Jewish life, growth and development
The EJA trusts on its partners to develop and maintain Jewish life in Europe on a variety of aspects targeting different people and communities. These organisations, work through the EJA and its values.


 * European Jewish Community Center: The European Jewish Community Centre hosts events and provides multi-lingual services and resources to officials and civil servants of the European Institutions. It often holds shared events with other interfaith groups.


 * European Center for Jewish Students: Based in Brussels, ECJS is a non‐profit, apolitical organisation which caters to the needs and interests of all Jewish students and young professionals, regardless of background or affiliation.


 * Rabbinical Centre of Europe: The Rabbinical Centre of Europe has made it its goal to enlarge the scope of spiritual opportunities in Europe and support the sacred work of European Rabbis; likewise to strengthen the spiritual infrastructure of Jewish communities in Europe, thus facilitating the Rabbis with their congregations.


 * CHANA: The European Forum for Jewish women offers in – depth online courses and holds an annual weekend seminar for women leaders in Europe. CHANA distributes Shabbat candle kits and information packs about Jewish family life.


 * Morasha: the European Jewish Youth Association–Morasha develops school programs and publications, operates a network of Sunday schools and offers Bar Mitzvah preparations and holiday programs for children and families.


 * Action and Protection: intends to provide new alternatives for feeble legal actions against deteriorating common parlance, exclusion and lack of knowledge that are the breeding ground of antisemitism as well as atrocities and infringement of the law along the strategy of positive Jewish identity and community forming.


 * European Kosher: International food manufacturers depend on an extensive list of products and informational seminars certified kosher by this organisation. In this way, it facilitates kosher food for hundreds of Jewish communities across Europe.


 * Jewish European Professionals: JEP is an organisation focusing on creating opportunities for young professionals throughout Europe to meet in a fun and engaging framework with the purposes of self-development and creating meaningful relationships.


 * Bassad: Is an organisation arranges drastically reduced costs for religious articles and synagogue essentials and provides holiday kits, books, ads and magazines in 8 languages.


 * European Jewish Lawyers: An organised network of European Jewish lawyers, brings anti – Jewish and terrorist activists to justice and offers legal assistance to Jewish communities throughout Europe.