RESOLUTION - Promoting youth inclusion within Jewish community boards

Preamble:

Representation has long been an issue affecting the accessibility of Jewish communal structures. For many years, and too often, a distinct lack of diversity and a clear underrepresentation are seen across a number of identity lines (age, gender, sexual orientation, able-bodiedness, denomination, ethnicity, etc). Since October 7th, 2023, young Jews have stepped up, ensuring they define their future across Europe whilst also ensuring Jewish life can thrive for years to come. At the same time, communities often complain about the lack of youth engagement, which is often directly linked to the lack of representation and, thus, the communities’ programming. Within this framing and given the role of EUJS as the umbrella organisation of 36 Jewish student unions across Europe, and being the central representation of 160,000 young Jews, steps must be taken towards institutionalising and boosting the representation of young people within such national-level communal structures.

EUJS notes that:

1. The resilience and strength of young European Jews in the aftermath of October 7th is to be commended.
2. Representing the next generation is vital to securing continued Jewish life in our communities.
3. Fostering young leaders and equipping them with skills and opportunities to help them thrive in their communities, and on community boards, is of great importance.  

EUJS believes that:

1. That some national Jewish community boards are currently not representative of the diversity in the community that they are, indeed, representing along several identity lines, including that of young people.
2. The current makeup of Jewish community boards in Europe and the extent to which they institutionally incorporate youth voices differ greatly from country to country.
3. The current institutionalised role of some member organisations in national boards should serve as a best practice model for future inclusion within communal structures in national contexts, if applicable.
4. The clear underrepresentation of young people and youth organisations in the overwhelming majority of national Jewish community boards in Europe is an issue that directly affects EUJS and its member unions, but also the Jewish Communities themselves, making it an issue of importance for the future of European Jewry.
5. As the representative umbrella body of 160,000 young Jews in Europe, EUJS must be vocal in standing up for the fair representation of young Jews.

EUJS resolves to:

1. Conduct research on the current Jewish community board makeup so as to gain a more holistic overview of the situation, with a view to having a more specified plan of action points.
2. Encourage Member Unions to build partnerships with other Jewish organisations to increase understanding in the importance of having more representative Jewish community structures.
3. Carry out a concerted campaign to raise awareness of the issue of underrepresentation in Jewish community boards with a view to effecting a position change on the topic.
4. Work with Member Unions to call on Jewish Communities concretely to have at least one Person under 30 on every Jewish Communities Board, with this representative being responsible not just for youth issues, but rather general affairs of the community.
5. Create initiatives that give the platform for young Jews across Europe to further develop their leadership skills, ensuring they can thrive on community boards.

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