Launch of the European Days of Jewish Culture 2025: Celebrating “People of the Book” Across Europe
The European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC) 2025 officially kicked off on Sunday 7 September, marking the start of a continent-wide festival dedicated to Jewish heritage and culture. This year’s theme, “People of the Book”, highlights the enduring significance of the written word in Jewish life and its deep connections with Christianity and Islam.
A delegation of representatives from the AEPJ team and board of directors attended the opening activities in Stockholm, where the local Jewish community is celebrating 250 years of history. Their rich programme of activities was organised by Paideia: The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden and Judiska Församlingen i Stockholm (Jewish Community of Stockholm). AEPJ’s General Secretary, Noemi Di Segni, delivered an inaugural address.
Across Europe, more than 25 countries marked the launch with diverse events, from walking tours to concerts and open-door visits. Hundreds more activities will follow through November, offering opportunities to engage with Jewish culture and explore shared heritage across traditions.
François Moyse, President of AEPJ, underlined the festival’s importance: “More than ever, in these unstable times, even in war-torn Ukraine, the European Days of Jewish Culture demonstrate the importance of reaching out to others and promoting coexistence and the discovery of the Other.”
Noemi Di Segni, General Secretary of AEPJ and President of UCEI, added: “Jewish heritage should stay and continue to be recognised as a vehicle for serving development and wellbeing. It is an essential part of Europe, its constitution, its attention to welfare, its educational project, its political and democratic principles.”
Since 1999, the EDJC has been coordinated by the AEPJ, fostering dialogue, recognition, and cultural exchange through a European network of communities and institutions. For details on this year’s programme, visit: jewisheritage.org/edjc/2025-people-of-the-book.
