Purim has always been a time of giving and this year was no exception as, for the second year in a row, EUJS launched its “Toda on Purim” campaign, continuing its message to encourage Jewish people across Europe to thank special individuals for their work in protecting Jewish community life.
The idea for the campaign came about after the sad realisation that already, for many years, Jewish communities across Europe were having to implement extreme messures to ensure their safety and security in schools, synagogues and office buildings. As attacks against the community took place in Paris and Copenhagen, the idea of thanking those who contributed to securing this safety through an international campaign became ever more important.
#TodaOnPurim16 was launched by EUJS and had an active following and participation in Austria, Italy, Swizterland, Hungary, Belgium and Lithuania. We were also pleased to welcome the South African Union of Jewish Students participation who were kind enough to support this important cause. Throughout the week, students created and delivered handmade mishloach manot parcels with a specialised campaign card to security guards, police officers, politicians and others who have made it their mission to ensure the continuity of Jewish life in Europe.
“We usually don’t take the time to acknowlege how important these people are in our daily life” said EUJS Board Member Talia Bidussa.
“It’s really important to just take a moment to say a simple thank you and let them know they matter”.