European Rabbis participated in a conference concerning Shabbos, Family and Community in the city of Prague, Czechoslovakia that started yesterday and will end on Wednesday. The RCE initiated the conference congregating over 80 Rabbis from all over Europe. The RCE constantly received appeals from European Rabbis about the apathetic attitude Jews have towards their identity, so therefore they decided to establish the conference. The Hulya fund established by the Metanel fund, run by Mr. Albert Aflalo, supported the event.

Rabbi Arie Goldberg, Director General of the RCE opened the conference stating that since the RCE is the largest union of Rabbis, it takes upon itself the responsibility in assisting community Rabbis with their Jewish identity issues and antisemitism challenges. The conference gives the Rabbis the opportunity to congregate on all these matters.

The conference was held at the “King David” hotel in Prague, where Rabbi Simcha Cohen, author of “The Jewish Home” series, captivated the audience with his opening presentation on how to manage a Jewish home.

The following speaker was the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Holon and Sephardic representative on the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rabbi Avraham Yosef. He clarified the privileges and obligations of the European Rabbis towards their community .Many challenges have to be dealt with as a result of rampant Islamic terror. The community needs answers on topics such as Prayer and Jewish Identity, besides the other issues the Rabbis deal with throughout the year.

Chabad Rabbi of Prague and 15 year Shaliach, Rabbi Manis Barash, shared his community issues and daily efforts with all the participants.

Academic senior lecturer in Universities and Michlala Bayit Vegan Rabbi Nathan Rozen described how to transmit the purity of the Shabbos to the listeners and gave a “tool box” on how to help Start Shabbos observance. During the dinner, Certificates were distributed to participants of the “Chupa and Kidushin” course provided by the RCE. Those that passed the test received an authorized certificate from Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Schmahl Dayan ‘Shomrei Hadas’, Antwerp, and member of the Rabbinical Council of Europe, and from Rabbi Eliyahu Bar Shalom, author of “Mishpat Haktuba’ series and is recognized by the Chief Rabbinate in Israel, who delivered the course .

The first day of the conference concluded with a presentation of the first aid program that will be delivered to all the participants. The RCE initiated the idea of setting up community emergency teams in case of unusual events. Zaka , Yisraelife, Ichud Hatzala assisted with providing   the speakers such as Mati Goldstein, Head of Magen-Zaka’ And Dovi Meisel, Vice president of Israelife -United Hatzala. During the conference, they will teach the basics needed for community Rabbis on how to provide assistance in case of emergency. The program is a result of the many appeals from Rabbis to the RCE, who are troubled about possible attacks on community institutions, synagogues, schools, etc. The lack of first aid skills is a potential physical danger in these situations.

In addition to possible physical danger, the community leaders have to deal with the outcome of antiemetic acts and all the consequences, such as insecurity, loss of trust in the leaders of the community for not providing aid in time of need, and rehabilitation for post-security incident.

Featured guest speakers will be Rabbi Binyomin Jacobs, Chief Rabbi of the Netherlands and a member of the Rabbinical Council in Europe, Rabbi Yaakov Schmahl, Dayan ‘Shomrei Hadas’, Antwerp, and member of the Rabbinical Council of Europe, Rabbi Michoel Szmerla, Rabbi of Strasbourg and member of The Rabbinical Council of Europe, Rabbi Yitzchok Niazov Sephardic Rabbi of Vienna and member of the Rabbinical Council Of Europe.