WJC’s Leadership Bridge Salon Series Strengthens Israel-Diaspora Bonds

Each salon will give structure to diverse conversations about Israel-Diaspora ties and will create the foundation for ongoing, local Leadership Bridge hubs. The initiative will be carried out in collaboration with WJC’s affiliate Jewish communities in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Israel, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Uruguay.

The salons build upon a June event in Jerusalem, when the World Jewish Congress, the Reut Group and the Jewish Peoplehood Coalition first launched the Jewish Leadership Bridge for the Future. At that time, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog welcomed 100 WJC Elevate members young Jewish leaders from WJC affiliated communities, who were joined by 150 of their Israeli counterparts. Together, they conducted passionate discussions on the future of the Jewish people and created tangible actions to secure a shared future.

“We are gradually losing points of contact with one another, losing our connection to the binding story that keeps us whole as one nation,” Herzog said at the June gathering. 

The salons offer an opportunity to continue those initial discussions in Jerusalem, which included how Jews in Israel and the Diaspora could best support each other; how organizational leaders could better collaborate; how to ensure that young people understand the importance of Jewish unity and how to motivate them to leadership roles at various levels. At the conclusion of the initial salons, the participants will reconvene in Israel for continued discussions and joint-project development with their Israeli counterparts.