This past summer, Jerusalem played host to a variety of international conferences with the common topic, the Jewish People and the Future. These gatherings addressed sometimes overlapping issues but were markedly different in both the age groups targeted and the tone set for the Jewish future. In reflecting on two of the larger and more public events, it is clear older, more established institutions in the Jewish world are unfortunately still often closed to emerging leaders; this in spite of the constant bemoaning the dearth of future leadership. At the same time there are hundreds of young, passionate and talented Jewish activists, eager to take on serious leadership roles. They are not waiting for an invitation, but are already taking on the challenges of the Jewish world in the 21st century. It is these leaders who will shape the future – and it is time for the major Jewish institutions to pay them heed.

Read Inbal’s complete Minding the Generational Gap which will be posted shortly in our Resources section.

Inbal Freund is Executive Director of the Jerusalem based Mavoi Satum, an organization that assists Agunot and Mesuravot Get. As a former Legacy Heritage Fellow, she focused on the generational gap between the institutional Jewish world and the younger generation. Inbal was the Israel co-chair for the recent Kol Dor conference and is a member of the steering committee of CreativeZionism.

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