As they do every year before the High Holidays, a delegation from the RCE conducted a tour of Jewish communities in Europe to provide them with encouragement and chizuk. This year’s delegation was led by Rabbi Arie Goldberg, the CEO of the RCE, and Rabbi Avraham Abba Torezki, Secretary of the Rabbinical Council of Europe, who were accompanied by Rabbi Avraham Yosef, Chief Rabbi of Holon.

The delegation made a memorable visit to Strasbourg, where they toured the city’s educational institutions and various synagogues. They also held a special meeting with the Chief Rabbi of Strasbourg, Rabbi Shmuel Akiva Schlesinger, and with the city’s rabbis, led by Rabbi Avraham Weill.

The delegation held a special evening with students from the Regesh organization that operates in the city, where participants posed questions on Jewish topics to the delegation. The rabbis responded with wisdom, knowledge, and great warmth. At the end of the meeting, the participants made commitments to strengthen their observance of Torah and mitzvot as significant preparation for the High Holidays.

The delegation also conducted a visit to Paris and its suburbs, and visited the communities and Jewish schools there. Wherever they went, residents approached and warmly thanked them for the uplifting visit, especially at this time of year, as the chizuk gives them encouragement and helps them prepare for the Yamim Noraim.

One stop during the visit was at the Ki Tov school and its branches, headed by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Pevzner, CEO of the institutions, who has revolutionized Jewish education in Paris. The schools under his leadership are growing each year. At the end of the tour, the community rabbis and leaders thanked the delegation for the visit, particularly during these difficult times for the Jewish people.

The CEO of the RCE, Rabbi Arie Goldberg, said, “It was moving to conduct the annual tour to Europe to strengthen the communities before the Days of Mercy and Forgiveness. We saw their excitement and how much it directly affects them. I thank the rabbis who took part in this tour and special thanks to Rabbi Shmuel Houri, rabbi of the Tunisian community in Paris and representative of the RCE in France, for organizing this successful tour.”