European Days of Jewish Culture 2026: LOVE
Online 2026 EDJC Organisers and Coordinators Meeting now open for registration
6th and 7th of May, 2026 | 3pm–6pm CET
The AEPJ is delighted to announce that registration is now open for the Online EDJC Organisers and Coordinators Meeting 2026, to be held on May 6 and 7, from 3pm to 6pm.
This meeting marks a vital moment on the path toward the European Days of Jewish Culture, an annual festival that begins on the first Sunday of September and unfolds across Europe through a rich mosaic of cultural and educational activities celebrating Jewish heritage. With each gathering, each exchange, and each shared act of remembrance and discovery, the EDJC nurtures inclusion, encourages dialogue, and stands firmly against antisemitism, helping to shape a society that is more cohesive, more open, and more deeply understanding.
This year, the festival will be guided by the theme LOVE — a reflection on the central role of love in Jewish tradition and on its profound ties to interfaith dialogue, cultural and social exchange. Under this theme, communities are invited to journey more deeply into its meaning, exploring how love can become a language of encounter, a bridge between traditions, and a force that draws people closer across differences, histories, and horizons.
The Online EDJC Organisers and Coordinators Meeting is far more than a moment of preparation; it becomes a space where ideas and intentions come together — an invaluable opportunity to connect, to learn, and to contribute to the unfolding joy of this pan-European festival.
Within this shared space, participants are invited to step deeper into the meaning of this year’s theme, discovering how it may be woven into activities that are both meaningful and engaging, where ideas are shaped into experiences that resonate.
The programme will open pathways of inspiration: an overview of the theme, introduced through a keynote speaker to illuminate its depth, a workshop guided by our colleagues and partners at ANU Museum, and the discovery of visual resources offered by our longstanding partners at NLI. The session will conclude with an opportunity for contributors to address key challenges — whether navigating the political context within the framework of the EDJC or those related to the organisation of events across Europe. These discussions will take place in breakout rooms, where AEPJ staff will be available for conversation, ideas, suggestions, and solutions.
The meeting extends its invitation widely — to all who wish to take part in organising activities for the EDJC: Jewish communities, cultural associations, museums, municipalities, and even individual organisers. Whether taking first steps into the festival or seeking to deepen involvement, participants will find here both the tools and the inspiration needed to create events that speak meaningfully to local audiences.
This gathering is an opportunity to help shape the future of the European Days of Jewish Culture, to connect with like-minded professionals, and to contribute to a shared movement that celebrates Jewish heritage, encourages dialogue, and fosters inclusivity across Europe.
Should questions arise, or assistance be needed, the AEPJ team remains close at hand: edjc@jewisheritage.org
Programme
The European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC) Online Organizers & Coordinators Meeting 2026 gathers coordinators, cultural professionals, and partners from across Europe for two days of shared inspiration and dialogue. Taking place on May 6–7, this annual encounter becomes a space of connection and exploration, inspired by this year’s theme, LOVE. The programme unfolds through keynote reflections, a creative workshop, and exchanges of experiences from across the network—offering both inspiration and practical insight, while nurturing collaboration and shaping the vision for EDJC 2026. We invite you to explore the programme below and to register for the sessions.
15:00-15:30
WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS
Claude Bloch – Honorary President AEPJ
Naomi DiSegni – Secretary AEPJ
MEETING THE EDJC COMMITTEE – Alfred Lang, Chair of the EDJC Committee
PRESENTATION OF THE 2026 EDJC THEME AND VISUAL ELEMENTS – Alina Marincean,
Manager of the EDJC
CALL FOR CITIES EMBRACING JEWISH HERITAGE – The role of municipalities in the EDJC
2026 – Sonja Viličić, Manager of the Cities Embracing Jewish heritage
15:30-16:30
WORKSHOP SESSION ON THE FIVE LANGUAGES OF LOVE IN JUDAISM
ANU – MUSEUM OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE
Interactive session for coordinators focused on translating the theme “Love and Judaism”
into local programming in the five languages of Love in Judaism. Networking and
inspirational session.
Our guests:
Lindsay Shapiro – Senior Coordinator of English Education, The Koret International School
for Jewish Peoplehood, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People
Liron Biran – Head of the Department of Research and Educational Development, ANU –
Museum of the Jewish People
Rachel Drash – Director of Global Education, ANU – Museum of the Jewish People
10 minutes break
16:40-17:20
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
ALEXIS NOUSS on “IS LOVE A JEWISH IDEA?”
Alexis Nuselovici (Nouss) is Professor Emeritus of General and Comparative Literature at Aix-
Marseille University, with previous positions at Cardiff University and the University of
Montreal. He has lectured internationally and founded key research initiatives such as
POEXIL and the Cardiff Research Group on the Politics of Translating, and is currently
affiliated with CIELAM in Aix-Marseille.
17:30-18:00
BREAKOUT ROOMS NETWORKING AND CONSULTATIONS SESSION WITH AEPJ TEAM
15:00 – 15:20
INTRODUCING NATIONAL LIBRARY OF ISRAEL. NEW RESOURCES CONCEPT FOR EDJC 2026
Our guests:
Caron Sethill – Programme Manager-Europe, The National Library of Israel
Naomi Bloom Wurtman – Project Coordinator-Gesher L’Europa, The National Library of
Israel
15:20 – 16:20
COORDINATORS’ VOICES FROM THE OPERATIONAL FIELD
NATIONAL COORDINATION AND NETWORK STRUCTURES WITH THE EDJC
Speakers:
Dominique Friedman – President of the European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage,
France
France – A well-established national coordination model
Rafaella Di Castro and Michelle Sembira – National Coordinators European Day of Jewish
Culture. UCEI – Union of Italian Jewish Communities
Italy – Managing a large national network of good practices
Alfred Lang – Chairman. Research Society Burgenland, Austria
Austria – Small organization with significant Impact
10 minutes break
16:30 – 17:15
Nives Beissman – National coordinator, Croatia
Croatia – A Community engagement perspective
Nataliya Tolok – Head of NGO WUC “Hillel”. Executive director NGO “Lemberik”, Ukraine
Expanding the network. Ukraine – challenging context and its Jewish cultural landscape
Marc Fracesch – Manager of the European Routes of Jewish heritage, AEPJ
EDJC and the European Routes of Jewish heritage on the spotlight
17:15-18:00
BREAKOUT ROOMS SESSIONS WITH AEPJ STAFF. Open exchange and discussion among
coordinators and speakers.
Concluding plenary session, gathering final reflections and outlining next steps.