Initiative to strengthen next generation representation

Participating in the Ofir International Leadership Program, Zionism Victoria’s Elyse Schachna is travelling to Israel and Budapest this week for the second stage of the program, which brings together Jewish leaders together to explore the opportunities and challenges facing contemporary Jewish life.

The group of emerging Jewish leaders has launched the ‘Our Turn at the Table’, a global initiative calling on Jewish communal organisations to ensure that at least one board position is held by a person under the age of 35. The initiative seeks to address one of the most pressing challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide: ensuring that younger generations are not only engaged in communal life, but are actively involved in shaping its future.

The project was born from a shared recognition that while Jewish communities continue to invest heavily in young people, many remain absent from the decision-making tables where the future of those communities is determined.

The international leadership program is named in memory of Ofir Libstein, the late head of the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council in Israel, who was murdered on 7 October 2023 defending his community.  This initiative seeks to continue his legacy by investing in the next generation of Jewish leadership.

Schachna said the ‘Our Turn at the Table’ project is about ensuring Jewish leadership reflects the communities it serves.