World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer today congratulated Andrea Gergely on her election as chair of the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS). “WUJS is fortunate to have an outstanding young activist like Andi as its new chairman,” Singer said. “I wish Andi much success in her new position and look forward to working in close cooperation with her on our joint projects. I would also like to congratulate Chaya Esther Pomeranz on finishing her term as WUJS chair, and thank her for all her hard work in putting WUJS on a sound financial and organizational footing.”
Gergely, a member of the WJC Executive Committee representing young adults, was elected to the new position on 1 January at the WUJS conference in Jerusalem. She finished a term as president of the European Union of Jewish Students (EUJS) on 31 December 2013.
“In my term at WUJS, I hope to strengthen Jewish student activism around the globe and support individual student unions in building up their own initiatives, as well as running coordinated campaigns,” Gergely said in an email message. “I will work to provide Jewish students from around the globe with a representative voice both within international organizations and the Israeli context. WUJS should address issues that are relevant to Jewish students today, such as rising anti-Semitism, delegitimization of the State of Israel, racism, and the treatment of minorities. I strongly believe that WUJS also has to address the growing Jewish identity crisis, by creating a safe space where students can confront and discuss their Jewish heritage.”
A native of Budapest, Hungary, Gergely graduated from the University in Vienna’s Lauder Business School with a degree in Intercultural Business Administration.
The WJC runs a joint project with WUJS and EUJS, the Global Campus Initiative (GCI), launched last summer in order to counter Boycott, Divestment and Sanction (BDS) campaigns and other attempts to delegitimize Israel in university environments around the world. The GCI held sessions in Jerusalem on 30 December for 100 WUJS activists.