Mi Dor Le Dor Europe: First seminar for Jewish heritage educators of Route du Judaism Rhenan

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 morning continued with group work and discussions in the various rooms and exhibitions of the Blue House, providing a deeper understanding of their historical significance. A moving visit to the garden’s exhibition shed light on the 1940 deportation of Baden Jews to the Gurs camp in France, offering a solemn reminder of the atrocities of the Holocaust.

After a presentation of a mobile library of Jewish literature, participants embarked on a guided exploration of pre-war Jewish life in Breisach. This included stops at the Jewish alley, the synagogue square, and a visit to the old Jewish cemetery (1755–1875). Later, at the Isenberg New Cemetery (1870–1993), attendees engaged in group work led by experts Roger Harmon, Valeska Wilczek, and Christiane Walesch-Schneller.

The day concluded back at the Blaues Haus with reflections on its 25 years of work in reconstructing Jewish family histories, future projects, and an open discussion. Optional activities included a walk to the Eckartsberg, offering stunning views and a poignant reminder of the deportation routes taken during WWII.

This seminar, which marked a significant step in preserving and sharing the legacy of Jewish communities in the Rhineland, will be followed by subsequent ones along winter.

MiDorLeDor Europe is a project based on the MiDorLeDor project developed by Taube Center for Jewish Life & Learning from Warsaw, coordinated by AEPJ and co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme of the European Union.