SACC by EJC, in partnership with the European Jewish Congress, hosted a two-day Crisis Management Seminar in Brussels, bringing together over 50 participants from 30 Jewish communities across Europe. Through expert-led sessions, drills, and practical exercises, participants strengthened their crisis response skills, reinforcing the resilience and preparedness of their communities.
The event, part of the PREACT – Prevention and Action – programme, took place within the framework of the BADRI – Bringing Awareness, Dialogue, and Resilience Improvement project. This initiative, funded by the European Commission through the CERV programme, aims to build improved capacity to react to antisemitism among Jewish communities, increase awareness of their rights, strengthen cooperation with law enforcement at the local level, and enhance their ability to respond to antisemitic attacks.
The first day of the seminar focused on the fundamentals of incident and crisis management, as well as key insights gained from past crises. The second day provided participants with tools to integrate victim support into their crisis response, ensure aftercare for community members and first responders, and adopt effective crisis communication strategies.
Speakers from SACC by EJC and partners as Victim Support Europe shared their expertise, guiding participants through case studies, simulations, and interactive discussions. Various exercises were conducted to support the practical implementation of these principles. These sessions fostered reflection, dialogue, and the exchange of best practices, equipping attendees with practical tools to address both present and future challenges. Participants explored different approaches to crisis preparedness, response and aftercare, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of crisis management within Jewish communities.
Participants exchanged valuable insights, enabling them to serve as multipliers within their local and national Jewish communities. This transfer of knowledge empowers Jewish communities across Europe to effectively support victims of antisemitism and strengthen their overall resilience by systematically enhancing the capabilities of community leaders to respond to and mitigate various forms of antisemitic incidents.
PREACT aims to facilitate the transfer of effective strategies to safeguard vulnerable individuals and strengthen collaboration among Jewish communities. The training sessions relied on key principles, practical tools, and knowledge-sharing to reinforce preparedness at all levels.
This was the second in-person seminar held under the PREACT programme. The first took place in Madrid, Spain, in November 2024, in cooperation with the Federation of Spanish Jewish Communities (FCJE). During this seminar, members from Jewish communities across Spain gathered to explore ways to strengthen cooperation in tackling rising antisemitism, share best practices, raise awareness of emerging challenges and threats, and enhance their response mechanisms.
Relevant speakers included representatives from Spanish law enforcement, EU institutions, and security experts, who provided insights into the latest trends in antisemitism, strategies for community resilience, and methods to improve coordination with authorities. The seminar fostered meaningful discussions and underscored the importance of a united and proactive approach to addressing security concerns and safeguarding Jewish life in Spain.
