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As along Autumn the members of MDLDE programme have been launching the training for educators events, recently in November Route du Judaisme Rhenan organised the opening seminar for the Upper Rhine, a transnational programme mixing Jewish heritage edcuators and guides from France, Germany and Switzerland. The event was hosted by the Blaues Haus in Breisach (Germany), a key remembrance and education centre for the exploration of the region’s Jewish cultural heritage.
The day began with avisit to the iconic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, where participants explored medieval representations of Jewish communities. This was followed by a formal opening at the Blaus Haus conference hall, featuring insightful presentations. Françoise Elkouby offered an Alsatian perspective on the Baden region, while Christiane Walesch-Schneller highlighted Breisach’s connections to Alsace.
The AEPJ is excited to announce the creation of the European Days of Jewish Culture Committee, which convened for its inaugural meeting on November, 2024. This new body is set to play a pivotal role in enhancing the coordination and strategic planning of the annual EDJC festival, ensuring its continued impact as a platform for celebrating and promoting Jewish heritage across Europe.
The committee, comprised of representatives from national coordinating organizations across the continent and the National Library of Israel, aims to foster closer collaboration among national coordinators and local organizers. Its primary objectives include developing a comprehensive long-term work plan for the EDJC, streamlining reporting and evaluation processes, and implementing more advanced planning for the festival’s annual themes.
The European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) is delighted to announce the appointment of Carme Vinyes Ferrer as its new Communication Officer. With a background that combines expertise in IT consulting, strategic communication, and a strong commitment to promoting Jewish heritage, Carme brings a unique skill set and deep passion for Jewish cultural legacy to AEPJ.
Carme, who has been actively involved in Jewish heritage projects through her work with Casa Adret, headquarters of the AEPJ, and as the founder and president of Amics dels Calls de Catalunya, has spent years dedicated to making Jewish culture accessible to the broader society. Her involvement in organizing educational events, literary routes, kosher wine tastings, and heritage visits in Catalonia highlights her commitment to showcasing Jewish history as an intrinsic part of European culture.
This week, the Thrive project partners convened at the World Jewish Congress headquarters in Brussels to kick off a groundbreaking initiative supported by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program.Thrive is designed to empower Jewish communities across Europe by strengthening resilience, fostering inclusivity, and promoting awareness of Jewish cultural heritage. Aligned with the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, Thrive aims to support Jewish communities in claiming and celebrating their heritage in the face of modern challenges.
Led by the World Jewish Congress, the European Union of Jewish Students and the AEPJ, the Thrive project brings together key Jewish institutions to empower communities through resources, visibility, and cultural engagement. This initiative underscores the importance of a vibrant Jewish presence within Europe’s cultural landscape, offering communities tools to sustain their heritage while countering antisemitism and fostering intercultural understanding.
The AEPJ proudly participated in the inaugural Watch Day, held in Timișoara, Romania, on October 17-18, 2024.
This event was organized as part of the World Monuments Watch, a global initiative by the World Monuments Fund that aims to identify and safeguard cultural heritage sites facing threats and challenges. Focusing on the Fabric Synagogue, the event provided a platform for community engagement, highlighting the importance of Jewish heritage in Timișoara through guided tours, workshops, and discussions designed to raise awareness about the site’s historical significance.
The World Monuments Fund, in collaboration with local communities and various international stakeholders, has launched an ambitious restoration project for the Fabric Synagogue. Built in 1899, this architectural gem currently stands closed to the public, yet it represents a cornerstone of the Jewish legacy in Timișoara.
In a significant cultural milestone, Europe’s first international arrangement competition for musical remembrance culture was launched a few days ago in Hanover, during the chor.com European festival. The German Choral Association, in collaboration with Schott Music and Project 2025 – Arche Musica, AEPJ member since 2023, has introduced this competition centered on the German-Jewish Songbook of 1912. This initiative seeks to foster a dynamic choral remembrance culture while promoting engagement with Jewish musical traditions in both Germany and Israel.
The competition is the first of its kind and carries a total prize fund of 20.000 euros, with three winning compositions to be published by Schott Music. Musicians from Germany and Israel are invited to create new arrangements of songs from the Hebrew and German sections of the 1912 songbook, offering them a unique opportunity to make an impactful contribution to a new form of remembrance culture.
Between September 25 and 27, 2024, the AEPJ took part in the 13th Annual Council of Europe Cultural Routes Advisory Forum, held in the historic town of Visegrad, Hungary. Organized by the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe (EPA) and the European Institute of Cultural Routes, in cooperation with the Hungarian Ministry of Culture and Innovation and the Hungarian Open Air Museum, this year’s event focused on “Transmission and Innovation: Encouraging Youth Participation along the Council of Europe Cultural Routes.”
The Forum brought together over 400 participants from 40 countries, including delegates from CoE-certified routes, international organizations such as UNESCO and the United Nations, representatives from 41 member states of the EPA, as well as academics, tourism professionals, and civil society organizations.
Last week, the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage took part in the 20th General Conference of the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR) held in Heidelberg. The conference, under the theme “Don’t let Europe go backwards,” gathered municipal leaders, human rights organizations, and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for combating racism and fostering diversity across Europe.
Federico Szarfer, project manager of the European Days of Jewish Culture, represented AEPJ at the conference. In collaboration with Robin Sclafani from CEJI (A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe), they led a participatory workshop to gather input for the NOA Guidelines on Fostering Jewish Life. This document, part of the NOA (Networks Overcoming Antisemitism) project, complements the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, focusing specifically on the local level by addressing municipalities and civil society.
The European Association for the Preservation of Jewish Heritage had the honor of participating in the sixth meeting of the Working Group on the implementation of the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, held on September 20-21, 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. This important international forum, organized in collaboration with the European Commission and the Government of Hungary, brought together experts, government representatives, and community leaders from across Europe with the aim of strengthening efforts to combat antisemitism and promote Jewish life on the continent.
AEPJ Director Victor Sorenssen was invited as a speaker at the forum, presenting the NOA Guidelines on Fostering Jewish Life. In his address, Sorenssen emphasized the critical importance of these guidelines for the strengthening and revitalization of Jewish life in Europe, highlighting how Jewish heritage and culture can play a decisive role not only in combating antisemitism but also in building vibrant and sustainable Jewish communities.