BERLIN (JTA) — Some 6,000 young Jewish leaders and educators applied for slightly more than 1,000 spots at a European education and youth assembly to be held in Paris.
Those who lost reserved spots at next week’s conference will be the first invited to the next event of the European Council of Jewish Communities, according to a statement by the organization.
The participants from across Europe will converge on Disneyland Paris April 3-4 for the ECJC’s inaugural Jewish Education and Youth General Assembly.
Overbooking led to the cancellation of three filled buses and the withdrawal of invitations to several communities.
"The demand for the GA was unbelievably high," Tomer Orni, ECJC’s executive vice president, told JTA in a telephone interview. This "reflects the indubitable thirst of communities and individuals in Europe to connect and engage with exciting content, and gear up their structures and activities."
The broad-ranging general assembly will tackle such issues as European Jewish identity, the role of social media, Jews and the environment, and how to stand up to anti-Zionism.
The fee of 50 euro, or $71, for transportation, accommodations and kosher food was very attractive, according to a young Jewish leader in Italy who was asked to recruit 50 participants. Before he could, the offer was withdrawn due to overbooking, he told JTA. Jews from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Hungary reported cancellations of paid registrations. Though rooms were later found for them, they were informed that they would have to arrange their own transportation.
The ECJC website says those who lost their places at the GA would be the first in line to attend the next event.
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