About the Capital Jewish Forum
The Capital Jewish Forum Mission Statement:
The Capital Jewish Forum aims to promote discussion and engagement with intellectuals, dignitaries and leaders on topics which are relevant to Jewish academic, policy, business and other professionals. The Capital Jewish Forum has no ideological or political affiliation.
Broadly, the goals of the Capital Jewish Forum include:
1. Focus attention of leaders and key decision makers on issues pertinent to the Jewish community and allow CJF members to meet and interact with these leaders and decision makers.
2. Provide a unique and contemporary framework open to Jewish professionals with diverse political and ideological views.
3. Offer stimulating opportunities for Jewish professionals to enhance their Jewish identity through meaningful engagement and networking with their Jewish contemporaries.
The Capital Jewish Forum
The CJF is a non-partisan group, which offers a unique, alternative communal model based on personal empowerment, aiming to enrich the existing communal structures. Through regular events held in Australia, the CJF not only exposes Jewish academic, policy, business and other professionals to a diversity of views within the Jewish community, but also provides direct engagement and interaction with intellectuals, dignitaries and leaders on topics of importance to the Jewish community. The culture of inclusiveness that defines the CJF model is also particularly attractive to Jewish professionals who may be otherwise disengaged from and/or unaffiliated with existing communal institutions.
In the Australian and global Jewish community, existing communal structures have mixed results in remaining contemporary and engaging. For a variety of reasons, many Jews perceive their community structures as irrelevant, lacking a contemporary framework, and at times alienating. Substantively, in many cases there is an apparent clash of political, ideological or cultural positions between many Jewish professionals and existing institutions. This dissociation from the Jewish community contributes to the existing crisis in Jewish identity and continuity, which is not only unique to Australia but also poses a challenge to the global Jewish community. The CJF mission is to encourage the discussion of diverse political and ideological views and to provide the means by which Jews, regardless of pre-existing affiliation or ideology, can enhance their Jewish identity through meaningful and relevant engagement. Capital cities are centres of political, diplomatic and intellectual life globally; they are in a unique position to offer ample opportunities for engagement with dignitaries and leaders.
The CJF was established in Canberra, Australia, where it was officially launched in August 2009 in the presence of Mr Mark Dreyfus QC, MP at the Australian Parliament House. Other Distinguished Guests at various subsequent CJF events have included the Israeli, US, EU, Indonesian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Turkish, French, Pakistani, Polish and Hungarian ambassadors, the Palestinian Authority's Head of Delegation, the Special Envoy of the Palestinian Authority's President, the Australian Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission Chairman, the Office of National Assessments Director-General, the Federal Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services Parliamentary Secretary, the Liberal Senator for the ACT and the Australian Federal Police Commissioner. The events have been held at the Australian Parliament House, Australian National University and various embassies. A number of Distinguished Guests have confirmed their participation in future CJF events.
There is significant interest among CJF members and other parties to replicate the unique CJF model in other cities around Australia. Moreover, wide-ranging discussions have elicited a strong interest to implement the CJF model in a global context, including opportunities to collaborate with international stakeholders.
A range of other important initiatives are also being considered, including Shabbatonim with Distinguished Guests, international missions, fellowships for young Jewish leaders, and a major annual event in Canberra in which a panel of past Distinguished Guests would be invited to return, among others.
