In 1931, Jewish scouts from across Europe came to France to participate in the first international Jewish scout camp. At the end of the event, the young participants decide to establish a World Union of Jewish Scouting. This organization was unable to develop due to the tragic events that unfolded in Europe, beginning in 1933 and culminating in the Shoah.

JEWISH COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP FOR TOMORROW, THE “GLOCAL” ANSWER OF JEWISH SCOUTING

• The International Forum of Jewish Scouts (IFJS) was inaugurated in Jerusalem, on 2nd November 2006. Since July 2009, it has been confirmed as holding consultative status with the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM), the largest youth movement in the world, with some 28 million participants around the globe.

It brings together representatives of Jewish scouts from three continents: America (USA, Brazil, Canada), Europe (UK, France) and Israel (more to come). The name “Forum” was chosen reflecting the desire to provide a focal point promoting dialogue, exchanges, and proposals among Jewish scouts throughout the world.

• The second key objective is to share more than 80 years of experience in Scouting as a platform for Jewish education enabling youngsters in Jewish communities around the world to strengthen and enrich their Jewish identity.

• The third objective via the world scouting platform is to engage with our fellow scouts from other religions, in order to strengthen ties, expose the diverse faces of Judaism, and engage in dialogue and exchange.

1. To establish ties between all the existing associations, committees, branches, or groups of Jewish scouts in order to:

- engage in dialogue among activists and exchange ideas on the main issues of concern to the Jewish people today;

- strengthen and improve Jewish scout movements around the world;

- initiate joint activities, such as a Jamboree of Jewish scouts;

- exchange educational and training material;

- publicize Jewish Scout activities within the Jewish world;

- seek funding for the development and strengthening of Jewish Scout groups.

2. To establish new local groups of Jewish scouts in Jewish communities around the world:

- to establish an informal Jewish education structure in communities in which there is presently no youth movement;

- to develop local community leadership through activists in the Scout movement.

3. To represent Jewish scouts in contacts with the Scout movement and with other religions within the movement:

- to participate in international activities and present the Jewish voice;

- to strengthen the Jewish identity of Jewish scouts attending international gatherings and meetings;

- to establish and/or participate in various interfaith encounters initiated by the World Organization of the Scout Movement.

Extracts from the Minutes of the IFJS General Meeting held December 13th, 2009 at the EEIF National Center in Paris.

[...] As stated in the IFJS constitution there will be nine members of the managing board of the IFJS. As agreed at the General Meeting each member will have one seat on the managing board with the exception of the NJCoS and EEIF who will have two members on the managing board.

It has been agreed that these seats will be given to the Girl Scouts of America and Scouts de Argentina when they become members.

The members of the managing board and the agreed positions are as follows:

• President – Alain Silberstein (EEIF)
• Vice President – Fernando Brodeschi (UEB)
• General Secretary – Andrew Marks (NJSF)
• Treasurer – Jay Lenrow (NJCoS)
• Member – Lucinda Glasser (JGAC)
• Member – Frank Neuman (EEIC)
• Member – Amos Ilani (Tsofim)
• Member – Rabbi Hyman (NJCoS)
• Member – Karen Allali (EEIF)

It was proposed that the EEIF will host the IFJS by way of providing a postal and e-mail address.

All correspondence will be forwarded on to Andrew as Secretary and Alain as President.

It is proposed that the Managing Board will meet every three months over Skype or telephone to discuss progress on issues affecting the IFJS [...]