In a statement issued here today, Philip M. Klutznick, chairman of the Governing Board of the World Jewish Congress, said a decision was made at the meeting of the Board in Paris (Feb. 22-24) to establish a permanent commission on youth and a youth advisory committee in each of the four regional branches of the WJC–North America, Europe, Latin America and Israel.
The permanent commission, Klutznick said, would represent the various perspectives of the younger generation. A majority of its members would be young people, nominated by the four regional branches of the WJC. It would include, however, a number of experts on youth affairs and lay leaders of the WJC, so as to foster a productive exchange of ideas between the younger and the older generations. The commission would consist of 15 young people and would in general meet in conjunction with meetings of the WJC Governing Board.
“The establishment of a youth commission and of youth advisory committees is a serious attempt,” Klutznick said, “to involve in the activities and the decision-making processes of the WJC young people representing a broad spectrum of viewpoints. Given the way leadership usually emerges in national Jewish organizations and agencies, it is exceptional to find young people being delegated to represent these bodies at the meetings of an international umbrella organization.”
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