Annual Conference of UPJ Germany
The 26th annual conference of the Union of Progressive Jews in Germany took place in Amsterdam from 9 – 12 May 2024. More than 160 participants attended the opening in the Uilenburgersjoel, a synagogue built in 1766. The participation of Pierre Elkaim, EUPJ’s Vice-Chair Finance, was a great honour. The keynote speech was given by Uriel Kashi, historian and tour guide in Israel, on the subject of “Israel after October 7: Changes, visions and the significance for the Diaspora”. Numerous excursions to Jewish sites in Amsterdam, a canal cruise, as well as numerous workshops in German and Russian and the Kabbalat Shabbat at the Liberal Community in Amsterdam gave participants the opportunity to learn about Jewish Amsterdam, as well as liberal Judaism in the Netherlands and Germany.
The Shacharit on Saturday morning was led by students of the Abraham Geiger College at the University of Potsdam. The lively exchange among the participants and the ordinary general meeting on Sunday morning confirmed that the UpJ is on the right track in its further development.
