AEPJ Takes Part in the 2025 Paris Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism
Paris, 20 November 2025 – The AEPJ participated, with a strong institutional delegation, in the Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, held at the Hôtel de Ville of Paris under the auspices of Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and organised by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), CRIF and the European Jewish Congress (EJC). The AEPJ was represented by its President François Moyse, Treasurer Patrick Bikard, Director Victor Sorenssen, Sonja Viličić, Project Lead of Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage, and Uri Bar-Ner, representative of the Kiriaty Foundation, member of the AEPJ and partner in the project Cities embracing Jewish Heritage.
The Summit brought together mayors, municipal leaders, policymakers, researchers and civil society organisations from across Europe and beyond for a full day of high-level dialogue. The programme opened with remarks by Anne Hidalgo, who reaffirmed the city’s longstanding commitment to combating antisemitism, followed by interventions from leading figures including Yonathan Arfi, President of CRIF, and Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress. A highlight of the opening session was the address by Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, who received the Summit’s Leadership Award in recognition of her work developing the EU Strategy on combating antisemitism. Her remarks underscored the need for coordinated European, national and local action and emphasised the essential role of municipalities in implementing the EU Strategy on the ground.
AEPJ President François Moyse addressed the audience during the Opening Plenary Session. In his intervention, he highlighted the unique role of the AEPJ as a European network dedicated to the promotion of Jewish cultural heritage, describing heritage as a crucial tool for strengthening democratic culture and fostering inclusion. Moyse emphasised that Jewish history is deeply woven into the development of European cities and argued that making this heritage visible is essential for building more open, resilient and pluralistic societies. He also presented Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage — the joint AEPJ–CAM initiative — as a leading model for helping municipalities rediscover, protect and integrate Jewish heritage into their local cultural strategies. He recalled that many participating cities are active contributors to the European Days of Jewish Culture, coordinated by the AEPJ, and engaging institutions across more than 30 countries.
The day continued with panel discussions and exchanges that examined the translation of national strategies into local realities, the safeguarding of cultural spaces from boycotts and exclusion, the digital and security threats affecting Jewish communities, and the growing challenges on university campuses. An open-mic session later in the afternoon brought together mayors from across Europe to share concrete experiences and innovative local responses. The atmosphere throughout the Summit reflected a strong and shared commitment to collective responsibility and local leadership.
In the afternoon, Victor Sorenssen, Director of the AEPJ, moderated the panel “A Thousand Years of Jewish Presence in Europe – Cities Using Culture to Build Inclusion”, which explored how cities are reintegrating Jewish heritage into their civic identity and contemporary cultural narratives. Sorenssen stressed that Jewish heritage should be understood not only as a historical legacy but as a living cultural resource present in the architecture, neighbourhoods and memory of European cities. He framed the debate around three core themes: how cities articulate Jewish heritage within broader civic narratives; whether cultural initiatives contribute meaningfully to reducing prejudice and antisemitism; and the importance of long-term partnerships between municipalities, Jewish communities and civil society.
The panel featured Philippe Bokobza (Maison Rachi, Troyes), Petr Papoušek (Federation of Jewish Communities of the Czech Republic), Vygintas Gasparavičius (Vilnius City Council), and Nađa Ljiljanić (Deputy Mayor of Podgorica). Their testimonies showcased diverse but complementary approaches: the revitalisation of intangible heritage, the integration of Jewish history within educational programmes, the use of heritage as a tool for civic dialogue and the importance of alliances that embed this work into municipal cultural policy.
The participation of the AEPJ in the Mayors Summit highlights its expanding role as a European reference in Jewish cultural heritage and its commitment to supporting cities in developing inclusive cultural policies. Through initiatives such as Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage and the European Days of Jewish Culture, the AEPJ will continue to deepen collaboration with municipalities, European institutions and its network of partners.
The AEPJ extends its sincere thanks and warm congratulations to the organisers — the Combat Antisemitism Movement, CRIF, the European Jewish Congress and the City of Paris — for convening an exceptional and meaningful gathering dedicated to strengthening democratic values and safeguarding Jewish life in Europe.
