Hundreds of young Jewish people from all over Europe gathered together last weekend in Brussels, Belgium, for the European Centre for Jewish Students’ annual ‘Party Like a Jew’ weekend.
The event began with a private tour of a traditional Belgian brewery where participants were able to watch the brewing and bottling of world famous beers.
Author and renowned life coach, Rabbi Yossi Ives was flown in from England to talk about the problems facing modern relationships for young Jews and the selfish case for Judaism.
ECJS is the largest Jewish youth organisation in Europe. Over 5,500 young adults from 46 countries have participated in an ECJS event during the last two years. It works to bring Jewish students and young professionals aged 18-35 together in order to preserve and unify the Jewish European society.
"I had a great time making lots of new friends. For me spending Shabbat with so many other young Jewish people was the highlight. It is so cool to have an event were everybody is Jewish," says Cindy Hadaya from Belgium.
As Shabbat service was celebrated followed by a walking tour of Brussels, Naftali Lindwer from Amsterdam proposed to his girlfriend Franziska Abicht from Munich. The couple met last year through ECJS and plan to marry next summer.
"We met through ECJS so I will always be so thankful to the organization for introducing me to my future wife," said Naftali.
Over the last four years over 20 ECJS participants have so far met their husband or wife at an event and many more are engaged to be married.
The organization holds five main events a year all over Europe. It also arranges services and meals for Shabbatot and holidays, as well as an annual Birthright trip to Israel.
ECJS’s next event ‘Just One Shabbat’ is to be held in Bucharest, Romania over New Year’s weekend.