Canadian Federation of Jewish Students

The Canadian Federation of Jewish Students (CFJS) or Federation Canadienne Des Etudiants Juifs (FCEJ), in French, is the representative organization of Jewish students across Canada. It was founded by leaders of Jewish student groups across the country in January 2004 in Ottawa.

The "CFJS" Executive is made up of an elected President and four Vice-Presidents as well as a number of Committee Chairs and 'Members at Large' chosen by the elected portion of the executive. Elections are conducted on a proportional basis, with each university's campus being allotted 1 vote for every 5000 Jewish students studying there, to a maximum of 5.

History

The Canadian Federation of Jewish Students was founded by the leaders of Jewish student groups across the country in January 2004 and exists to empower the Canadian Jewish student community. Since its founding, the CFJS has gained national recognition, most notably holding two major national conferences, each hosting around 300 Jewish students in Montreal, Quebec from across Canada.

Principles

All of the organization’s activities are based on the following five principles:

Representation and Student Voice

CFJS helps to connect Jewish students on local campuses across Canada to both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities in Canada, Israel, and the world. CFJS takes its lead from the diverse and numerous Jewish groups on campus, advocating for students and helping their voices be heard.

Convening and Uniting

CFJS helps to connect students from Victoria to London, Winnipeg to Halifax, and to physically bring them together to see and feel the common bond they share with their fellow Jewish students across the country.

Leadership Development

CFJS works to identify and cultivate the diverse qualities of students, in order to help the Jewish student community in Canada continue to thrive and to shape tomorrow and today.

Canadian Jewish Identity Development

CFJS believes students can take pride in their freedoms, and works to promote, develop, and defend this pride. It encourages students to explore and express their own Jewish identity and connection to Israel while cherishing Canadian ideals and values.

National Communication

CFJS helps to facilitate communication between students on a local, regional, and national level and to establish a network among them. CFJS enables individuals to share resources, ideas and best practices with other Jewish students in all parts of the country.

Representation

CFJS strives to represent Jewish students and their concerns and interests to outside organizations, including but not limited to national Jewish and student organizations as well as international Jewish student organizations and in the news media. This representation exists through the consent and support of local campus-based Jewish student groups.

The CFJS also has representation on the following bodies:

* CIJA - The Canadian Council for Jewish and Israel Advocacy
* NJCL - National Jewish Campus Life
* CIC - Canada-Israel Committee
* UIA Federations Canada
* Hillel International
* World Union of Jewish Students

External links

* [http://www.cfjs.ca Canadian Federation of Jewish Students]