Student leaders end world tour
The Australasian Union of Jewish Students’ premier Leadership Development Program to the United States, United Kingdom and Israel has ended after five weeks jam-packed with meeting inspiring speakers, lobbyists, academics, politicians, diplomats and leaders from all over the Jewish world.
AUJS students with Alan Dershowitz
Daniel Nash
Through exploring three global Jewish communities each year, AUJS LDP aims to develop the awareness of AUJS leaders of the challenges facing world Jewry. In the context of global successes and challenges, LDP empowers its participants to return to Australia and play their part in building Jewish life.
“For decades, AUJS LDP has inspired committed Jewish young adults to take up leadership roles in the Australian Jewish community,” said AUJS Chairperson Daniel Nash. “Our aim is to develop young Jewish leaders who reflect deeply and critically on how to continue building our community and its future. In 2012/13, 10 selected AUJS executive members have had the opportunity to grow as young Jewish leaders on our program,” Nash said.
Stephen Machet, LDP participant and AUJS Victoria President described the program as “the journey of a lifetime.” “We met with some of the most inspiring leaders – including in two special briefings with Alan Dershowitz in New York and David Harris in Washington, DC. The ability to compare and contrast different political, cultural, social and policy views was the defining element of my LDP experience.”
In addition to meeting the renowned Israel advocate and lawyer Alan Dershowitz and AJC Director David Harris, LDP participant highlights included: attending Limmud Conference; meeting with members of the House of Commons and the Board of Deputies of British Jews in the United Kingdom; collaborating with AIPAC and Hillel International in the United States, and celebrating Chanukkah at The White House; meeting with Israel’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN; meeting with Israel’s first female Brigadier General (ret.) and former Kadima MK, Amira Dotan, and meeting with Druze Israeli Ayoub Kara – current Likud MK and Deputy Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galil; and visiting UIA and WIZO community projects in Israel.
The AUJS group
“AUJS LDP is not only an investment in building Australian Jewish student life today,” said Nash. “It is an investment in ensuring capable and committed leadership for Australian Jewry tomorrow.”
Past LDP participants include Philip Chester, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia; Ginette Searle, Executive Director of the Zionist Federation of Australia; and Mark Baker, Director of the Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation.
AUJS LDP relies on the support of the Australian Jewish community.
Thank you to our supporters and partners: UIA Australia, The Besen Family Foundation, JCA NSW, JCA Dave Burnett Fund, JCA Millie Phillips Jewish Education Fund and WIZO Australia.
If you would like to support LDP or AUJS’s efforts in developing Jewish leadership, please contact our Executive Director at [email protected].
