Conference of European Rabbis Annual Review 2017-2018 (5777-5778) 15 www.rabbiscer.org Conferences and Events A central and vital part of the CER’s programme is its regular conferences, held in venues throughout the continent, where members come together to discuss the critical issues of the day, to network with each other and meet important people from the wider world. Standing Committee Conference in Monaco (November 2017) The main topic of discussion and perhaps the one with the most far reaching consequences was the uniform and strict criteria of conversions and agreement between the Rabbinic Courts of Israel and the Rabbinic Courts of Europe. In addition, the courts agreed on the importance of preserving conversion data with a cloud backup. President of the CER Rabbi Goldschmidt stated at the conference that; "The important discussions taking place on this subject are in order to deepen and improve the cooperation within the Jewish World Court in a professional environment, and that the decisions taken will bring about an amendment to the issues affecting the hearts of the communities in Europe." Matanel Seminar for Young Rabbis in Helsinki (December 2017) Dozens of rabbis from England, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Finland, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus participated in a professional conference organised by the Conference of European Rabbis and the Hulya organisation in Helsinki, Finland. Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt stressed the importance of the community rabbis play in the fight against assimilation and other challenges that face the Jewish communities of Europe and around the world today. Rabbi Goldschmidt said the community rabbis are the spearhead and main axis of the organisations that work to protect and strengthen the Jewish community. The rabbis concluded the conference by inaugurating an elegant new mikvah built by the Hulya organisation and the local community. CER 60th Anniversary Convention in Amsterdam 300 delegates, predominantly Rabbis from across Europe, gathered in Amsterdam for the 60th-anniversary convention of the CER including Israeli Chief Rabbi, Rav Lau. It also featured contributions from political figures including Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands H.E. Aviv Shir-On; Mr. Frans Timmermans, senior vice president of the European Commission; and Ms. Katharina von Schnurbein, coordinator on combating antisemitism of the EU Commission. Sessions at the conference range from keynote speeches delivered by Israeli Chief Rabbi David Lau and British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, to lectures on subjects of broad interest including a discussion of the use of DNA as a means of proving Jewish identity, and smaller breakout groups on topics including Small Communities, Special Education and Shabbat Olamit.