Fostering Community Resilience – Haver Serbia’s Journey through Education and Connection
Paideia’s Seed Funding Program, generously supported by EV Legacy, funded 22 initiatives dedicated to addressing antisemitism in Europe this year. The initiatives took diverse and innovative approaches, such as fostering intercultural dialogue, engaging with Muslim communities on minority life in Europe, promoting Jewish culture to non-Jewish audiences, and organizing interactive activities aimed at reducing negative stereotypes about Jews. Haver Serbia’s Fostering Community Resilience through Education and Connection, led by Paideia alumna Haver Co-founder Mina Pasajlic and implemented in cooperation with long-time partner JCC Global was among these remarkable projects.
For years, Haver Serbia had been grappling with challenges within its Jewish communities, from generational gaps and dwindling leadership to a lack of deep knowledge about Israel, antisemitism, and Jewish history. Following the events of October 7, these challenges were compounded by fear, isolation, and a rising wave of antisemitism. For many, the natural reaction was to shut down and retreat.
Mina and her team recognized the pressing need to provide fact-based information and create spaces where Serbian Jews could process, learn, and build resilience. The program brought together 30 students, young adults, lay leaders, and Jewish professionals from across the former Yugoslavia, including Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Slovenia, and Montenegro. The training provided a space for participants to address gaps in their knowledge and engage in meaningful discussions about antisemitism and the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Over two months, Mina and her team organized six online sessions that focued on the increasing presence of antisemitism in the region, as well as Israeli history, the history of Zionism and the Israel-Palestine conflict. These sessions were designed not only to educate but also to equip participants with the skills to navigate difficult conversations and build resilience.
“The training gave us the tools we needed to approach difficult conversations with confidence”, one participant shared. End-of-project surveys revealed that participants felt better equipped to discuss these challenging topics and appreciated the opportunity to learn alongside peers.
The project fostered an ongoing dialogue beyond the sessions. Participants formed a WhatsApp group to share real-time strategies for responding to antisemitism, support each other, and collaborate on solutions to issues in their local communities. The conversations have since become deeper, more informed, and more connected, reflecting the impact of the training.
Looking ahead, Haver Serbia plans to hold follow-up meetings with participants, offering continued support as they organize spaces for dialogue in their own communities. If needed, additional training sessions will be developed to address emerging challenges and sustain the momentum created by the program.
For Haver Serbia, this initiative also underscored the importance of coming together in times of crisis rather than retreating in fear. By fostering open dialogue and collaborative learning, Mina and her team created a model for building resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.