EUPJ Brussels Office Opens

Progressive Judaism’s representative in the political capital of Europe

Jews have lived in Europe for thousands of years. We, as a Progressive Movement, believe that a strong Jewish presence is central to the establishment of a tolerant, multi-cultural Europe – and that it’s essential to present another face of Judaism to European policymakers, one that is open to the modern world while being committed to Jewish traditions and ideals.

As a result, the European Union for Progressive Judaism (EUPJ) opened its EUPJ Brussels office on November 10, 2018, during a Shabbaton that was attended by representatives of almost all of its 17-member countries. A beautiful Havdalah service was followed by an interesting and entertaining evening.

Paul Nemitz, European Commission Principal Adviser (Strategies For Cross-Cutting, Justice Policies Or Legal Actions) and Chief Architect of its new GDPR Privacy Rules, was the keynote speaker at the opening event. He spoke about the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and why it’s important for democracy.

Other speakers included William (Bill) Echikson, Director of the new EUPJ Brussels office; Sonja Guentner, EUPJ Chair; Carole Sterling, Chair of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ); Leslie Bergman, EUPJ Honorary Life President, and Gilbert Lederman, EUPJ and WUPJ Board Member, Beit Hillel VP and Co-Organiser of the Shabbaton.

Read the full EUPJ newsletter on the opening of EUPJ Brussels here.