Last weekend, the founding conference of the Forum for Young Rabbis in Europe ended. The Forum was established by the Rabbinical Centre of Europe following the request of the chief rabbis of cities and communities in Europe to form a group of young rabbis who will share experiences and will receive help in cultivating leadership and skills within the rabbinate.

The special conference, which was held over three days, was attended by dozens of rabbis from all over the continent where professional discussions and workshops were held which reflected on issues of relevance and importance. The Forum was attended by Rabbi Eitan Eckstein, Chairman of the empowerment centre “Retorno”, Mr. Haggai Daphne, organizational consultant and psychologist, Mr. Ezra Haidu personal trainer and mediator, along with Budapest rabbis and presidium members of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe, Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Weisberger, Rabbi of Adas Yererim Cong., and Rabbi Baruch Oberlander, Rabbi of Chevra Shas – Lubavitch cong., The latter two rabbis gave a lecture to the young rabbis on topical religious issues and responded to various halachic questions relating to their everyday work.

The new forum of rabbis were guests of the Jewish community in the Obuda Synagogue, which is under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo Kovesh and a guest of the Israeli community in Hungary led by Rabbi Shmuel Raskin.

Among the decisions made by the forum was to hold internet conferences once a month, to hold two conferences a year, and also to consult with the Rabbinical Centre of Europe on complex issues and challenges facing rabbis on the continent to formulate a course of action.

Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, Deputy Director of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe described the three-day meetings as very exciting for the rabbis. He also thanked the organization “Building the Future” (founded by the Matanel Foundation) and its director Mr Albert Aflalo who assisted the success of the forum and Rabbi Shmuel Glitzenstein from Budapest for his help in organizing the successful conference.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)