Kislev means that Chanukah is coming soon! (25th Kislev, 2nd December 2018 is the first night) We will celebrate the Maccabees and their defeat of the Syrian-Greeks who had destroyed the Temple, as well as the miracle of the single jar of oil that burned for eight days. The story of Chanukah can be seen as a model of how Jews have experienced destruction but always come back with greater energy to rebuild from the ashes and rededicate their institutions for the future. That is a message that European communities know well!

Despite recent headlines, and ongoing challenges faced by Jews and Jewish communities in Europe, Jewish life is thriving in many places, fulfilling to those who are engaged, and a phenomenon very much of the present.

Read the full article by Dani Serlin, Yesod Director, published on eJewish Philanthropy to see what we’ve learned from the hundreds of professionals we’ve engaged to date and the areas we can help them flourish and make our communities stronger.