The ECJC was re-established in 2011 and brings together European Jewish communities and organisations, non-governmental organisations, federations and networks which are working to guarantee Jewish life in Europe for the next Generations to come. The members of the ECJC represent thousands of people in the shape of organisations, associations and voluntary groups at local, regional, national and European level reflecting the different interests of a wide social range including representatives from all walks of Jewish life.
The ECJC is non-political and non-denominational. We take shared responsibility for our communal life. We choose not to affiliate with any of the official Jewish movements but to offer each one of them the platform to reach different constituencies and to enable cross-learning and facilitate experiences of collaboration.
The ECJC is dedicated to offer programmes as gathering places, where people of all ages and from all walks of Jewish life can meet, more inspired by their Jewish heritage and more connected to their communities and to one another.
ABOUT ECJC
The President of ECJC
After the significant growth of The European Council of Jewish Communities (ECJC) in the last couple of years, the ECJC Board of Directors retreated to London for an intensive couple of days to agree on the direction of the organisation and discuss on the future projects to be undertaken by the Board.
The milestone of arriving for second time to democratic elections after the re-establishment of the organisation was celebrated with renewed commitment of the volunteers heading the different committees and tracks. The result of the election was supported unanimously electing Mr Michael Blake as the new President for the European Council of Jewish Communities for a term of three years during the General Assembly held in London on 21st May 2017.
Michael Blake succeeds Benjamin Albalas (Athens, Greece), who completed his three-year term leading the organisation. For the new Board, many Board members had been reconfirmed in their position by their own organisations, guaranteeing the same direction and a stronger structure to face the future challenges and once again a strong European platform for Jewish communities.
Michael Blake brings a wealth of experience as a volunteer in different UK based organisations. Born in London to immigrants’ parents, Michael has been married 40 years to his wife Susan and they have three sons and seven grandchildren. He is member of Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue on whose board he has served in addition of being involved with the Hebrew classes and the children's services for many years. Former Chairman of JIA Young Leadership and a Trustee and Joint Treasurer of Jewish Care, Michael brings experience, vision and commitment to the new role.
After the confirmation of the new appointments, the whole new board, lead by Michael will start to evolve and implement new ideas, which will focus on delivering relevant programmes to answer challenges to European Jewry besides strengthening the efficiency and impact of the outreach of the organisation. The whole board has thanked Benjamin Albalas, former president for being able to bring the organisation to its current position, with significant growth and standing in the different communities.
Our values
As a Pan-European Jewish organisation, the ECJC shares the basic Jewish values:
Democracy: each country, no matter its size or its financial contribution, has one vote, and therefore equal rights to other countries
Transparency: we say what we do, we do what we say
Solidarity: we are responsible for each other.
We strengthen Jewish life across Europe by effectively assisting our member organisations through promoting and developing inter-European networking, facilitating the planning and co-operating in the areas of social welfare, education, heritage, culture, community development and youth & sports.
What we do
We aim to work together to address shared concerns, pool our energies and experience for appropriate strategies and solutions
and invest wisely today to shape the future development of Jewry in Europe
ECJC represents Jewish national communal organisations, communities and city organisations from all over Europe, and it has NGO status with the Council of Europe and the European Union.
ECJC is primarily a platform, offfering to its different affiliates and the whole of European Jewry the opportunity of joining programmes answering to the different local challenges and needs.
