European Routes of Jewish Heritage Featured on French Ministry of Culture Training Platform

The European Routes of Jewish Heritage (ERJH), coordinated by the AEPJ, have gained new visibility through a dedicated presentation published on e-patrimoines.org, the online heritage training platform of the French Ministry of Culture.

Created in 2011, e-patrimoines.org serves as a reference platform for training and knowledge-sharing on both tangible and intangible heritage, primarily for French-speaking audiences. The platform is managed by the World Heritage Mission of the French Ministry of Culture, led by Bruno Favel. Since 2021, the Mission has actively supported the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe that cross France, working closely with French representatives of certified routes.

JECPJ France, a long-standing AEPJ associate, represents the European Routes of Jewish Heritage (ERJH) before the World Heritage Mission, with Thierry Koch, Vice-President of JECPJ France, serving as the route’s representative in this collaboration.

As part of this commitment, the Ministry launched a dedicated training module on the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe in 2023, wherein representatives of each route were invited to contribute a video presentation introducing their network and activities. In the second half of 2025, the French Ministry of Culture invited Thierry Koch, Vice-President of JECPJ France and representative of the European Routes of Jewish Heritage in France, to prepare and record a presentation on the European Routes of Jewish Heritage.

The resulting presentation pursues two main objectives: to explain the structure and functioning of the European Routes of Jewish Heritage and to provide an introduction to Jewish heritage across Europe. Particular attention is given to the decentralized nature of the ERJH network, the coordinating role played by the AEPJ, and the importance of local initiatives and transnational cooperation in building and sustaining this extensive cultural route.

The presentation also offers a concise overview of more than 2,000 years of Jewish presence in Europe, highlighting the diversity of Jewish heritage sites and traditions that form part of the route. Through examples drawn from France and other countries participating in the ERJH network, it explores both tangible heritage—such as synagogues, cemeteries and historic neighbourhoods—and intangible heritage, including traditions, customs and cultural expressions. The presentation further underlines the connection between the ERJH and the European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC), demonstrating how both initiatives contribute to preserving and promoting Jewish heritage throughout Europe.

The full presentation, available in French, can be viewed on the French Ministry of Culture’s e-patrimoines platform, here: https://www.e-patrimoines.org/patrimoine/new_interactive_ress/litineraire-culturel-europeen-du-patrimoine-juif

Thierry Koch, vice president of JECPJ France

Reflecting on the experience, Thierry Koch, Vice-President of JECPJ France, stated: “I was very pleased to accept the invitation extended to me by the French Ministry of Culture. For me, this was a wonderful opportunity to share the knowledge I have gained over the past decade about Jewish heritage in France and Europe, thanks to my involvement in the leadership of JECPJ France and my participation in several AEPJ projects. I am proud that this presentation will help raise awareness of Jewish heritage on an official website of the French Republic, which is accessed throughout the French-speaking world.”

The publication of this presentation on the French Ministry of Culture’s platform represents an important recognition of the European Routes of Jewish Heritage and of the work carried out by the AEPJ and its partners. By making information about Jewish heritage available to heritage professionals, cultural practitioners and the wider public across the French-speaking world, the initiative contributes to strengthening knowledge, appreciation and understanding of Europe’s rich Jewish cultural legacy.