Women and leadership

In Jewish family life, the home is important, and the Jewish woman has always been respected, both as a mother and wife.

During the last century the Jewish woman has moved from the domestic role to becoming an active participant in the larger Jewish community.

Still, many of the tasks within the community have been "domestic"-oriented, i.e baking for kiddush or Wizo gatherings, visiting the old, hosting various dinners and likewise voluntary tasks.

Many women work professionally in the Jewish communities, mainly with children and the old.

There are still too few women in other professional positions, for example as executive directors, and there are still too few women in top leadership positions.

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The Rabbi and the Protestant Minister

Joël Rochard is a Member of the Board of Fonds Social Juif Unifé in Paris- Chairman of the Social Housing Department. He is also a Board member of the ECJC and has been actively involved in Jewish institutions since 1967. He works with the French Administration and is married with 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

In the south of France, a woman - a protestant minister - works with two small congregations in Sainte-Affrique and Millau, two small towns. In 2006, she began wondering if she was not of Jewish descent and called upon a Jewish congregation in Montpellier, the main city in the area.

There, she met the rabbi, who accepted to help her research her background and heritage. As her field was a religious one, she came to the synagogue every week to take the course "Introduction to Judaism". This sort of knowledge could help her in her job with the "Église Réformée de France", so the inter-religious dialogue went on.

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A refreshing arrival in Europe

For six months the world has been coming to terms with the arrival of  one of the most unusual and controversial politicians to lead a major European state. That man, of course, is Nicolas Sarkozy, president of France. So is he, as some alleged before the 2007 election, a dangerous maverick, even a closet fascist? Or is he rather a true original, a rare man of principle in a world of jaundiced values? Or perhaps he is a pragmatist, determined to stamp his and France's authority on the world, yet also willing to "cut a deal" if that is what it takes to get results?

Whichever answer is correct - and I suspect numbers 2 and 3 are closer to the mark - there is no doubt that Sarkozy represents a new mode of politics. After 15 years of Jacques Chirac, for all his suaveness and international experience, that in itself is refreshing!

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New legislation in Sweden - for same sex marriage

Lena Posner Korosi is the President of the Swedish Jewish Community and all of the Scandinavian Jewish Community. She is also the Vice President of the ECJC Board. Mr Jonathan Joseph is hosting the blog for Lena this week.

On January 27th 2005 the Swedish government decided to appoint a special commissioner, assisted by two reference groups; one was comprised of representatives of the Swedish Parliament and one of the religious communities, to review a number of issues relating to marriage and registered partnership for same sex couples.

Jews in Europe - new challenges and opportunities

Robert Singer, Israel's Ukrainian-born consul in NYC, recently called this "the best period of relations between the state of Israel and Ukraine". And what is true of Ukraine applies equally to other former eastern bloc countries.

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Jews in Europe - new challenges and opportunities

Imagine the scene 20 years ago, if 1800 Jews had gathered in the most prestigious official buildings in Kiev, at the annual All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress.

It would have been unimaginable then, even more so during the rule of the Soviets or when Ukraine fell under the Nazi jackboot.

Yet, just last month, in Kiev, there were 1,800 Jewish delegates representing all shades of opinion, from all parts of one of Europe's largest and fastest growing countries. Foreign Jewish leaders also attended this year, including an EJCJ delegation.

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Peres and Europe

Using his legendary charm, cannot Peres tell, say, the Lithuanian authorities that they should stop building office blocks over the cemetery where the Vilna Gaon is buried?

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Europe, Turkey, Jews and Israel

Turkish Jews are not profoundly affected one way or the other by the scarf issue. But as a community of just 20,000 out of some 70 million, naturally they have concerns about whether a new burst of Muslim religiosity might impede their own freedoms.

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Understanding Wei-Ji

Last month marked another anniversary, one that equally signals "danger". I am referring to 25 June 2007, two years since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran.