EuroJews began with the dream of a small group of young Jews in Budapest. The members of Szimchaz, the youth section of the Szim Salom community, had been feeling isolated. As members of the only progressive synagogue in Hungary, they were not accepted by the mainstream Jewish organisations and felt excluded from the family of Judaism. So they hatched a plan. They sent invitations to every Reform and Liberal Jewish community in Europe to invite other progressive Jews to join them in celebrating Purim 2003 in Budapest, for a weekend filled with events and activities.

Around twenty-five people joined Szimchaz for this Purim weekend. They came from across Europe, from cities as widespread as Dublin and Paris, Prague and Milan. There were even participants from Russia and the United States. When they arrived on Friday evening, the Szim Salom synagogue was so full that the community ran out of chairs – it was standing room only. But the atmosphere was vibrant, and at Kiddush the jokes and stories began. It seemed that everyone had something to say about why they had come.

The highlight of the weekend was a boat party on the Danube, featuring music from local Jewish singers and a Klezmer Band. Around 200 people showed up, both young and not so young, progressive and Orthodox – raising awareness about Szim Salom amongst the spectrum of Hungarian Jewry. Other activities included a Megillah reading, a tour of Jewish Budapest and a trip to the famous thermal baths.

Following this meeting, there was a desire amongst the participants to repeat the weekend in a different location. The concept of “EuroJews” as “young-ish, European-ish, progressive-ish Jews” was born, an inclusive idea that enables all who wish to participate to join in the events. In December 2003 the second weekend was held in Barcelona, hosted by the Atid progressive Jewish community, and forty-five participants from fifteen countries lit Chanukah candles on the beach.

At both weekends there had been a significant presence of members from the Lev Chadash synagogue – the first progressive community in Milan. They were keen to organise a weekend, and so the third event was held in Italy at Purim 2004. Again it proved a great success, including a coach trip to a synagogue in Carpi that had not been in use for a century. At the end of this meeting the group decided to create membership of EuroJews for all those who had participated in an event, and voted on where future meetings should take place. The destinations that proved most popular were Prague and Copenhagen, and so the leadership contacted the progressive Jewish communities in each city to ascertain our welcome.  In 2004/5 EuroJews celebrated Chanukah in Amsterdam, Purim in Prague, and travelled to Copenhagen for a weekend in the summer.  

The future of EuroJews is proving to be a very exciting time.  As time has passed, the EuroJews community has grown in a variety of ways, from participation and membership, to the administrative side, to the objectives.  Not only has attendance increased with each event, but also many participants have begun showing an interest in adding to the development of the community.  When EuroJews was established, there was one coordinator; over time the administrative side has gained volunteers who handle the financial aspects, publicity, and membership.  The weekend events, which are the foundation of the organization, are no longer the sole objective of EuroJews.  Purim, Chanukkah, and other weekend events will continue to be held every year in different cities throughout Europe, giving our members the chance to reunite with old friends, make new ones, and learn how Judaism is practiced and celebrated throughout the continent.  However, there will also be increased outreach to less fortunate communities, Tikkun Olam programs, and musical, cultural projects, all of which will add to the enhancement of the community.  Since 2003, EuroJews has grown into a thriving community which can only continue to flourish as it develops and expands.