European Day of Jewish Culture
Encyclopedia
The European Day of Jewish Culture is an event celebrated in several countries in Europe
. The aim of this day is to organize activities related to Jewish culture and expose them to the public, with the intention that it would reveal the cultural and historical heritage of the Jewish people. The activities are coordinated by the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture (AEPJ), the European Council of Jewish Communities, B'nai B'rith Europe
and the Network of Jewish Quarters in Spain. The aim of this day is to promote and raise awareness of Jewish culture to the wider society in the countries where this event takes place, in the belief that a greater awareness of the culture, tradition and life of the different communities living in the same country or city helps people to know the "other", and thus, strengthens communication and dialogue between cultures in the country.
in the French
département Bas-Rhin
together with the local Agency for developpement of tourism. It now involves twenty-seven European countries including Turkey
and Ukraine
. The original aim of the day was to permit access to, and ultimately restore, long abandoned synagogue
s of architectural value like those of Wolfisheim
, Westhoffen
, Pfaffenhoffen
, Struth
, Diemeringen
, Ingwiller
or Mackenheim
.
In 2000, a partnership was created between B'nai B'rith
and the other organizations that currently participate in organizing the day's events.
an countries. Topics such as Jewish neighborhoods
, the coexistence of cultures, exhibitions on sculpture, painting, print, music and Jewish religious objects are discussed.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. The aim of this day is to organize activities related to Jewish culture and expose them to the public, with the intention that it would reveal the cultural and historical heritage of the Jewish people. The activities are coordinated by the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture (AEPJ), the European Council of Jewish Communities, B'nai B'rith Europe
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
and the Network of Jewish Quarters in Spain. The aim of this day is to promote and raise awareness of Jewish culture to the wider society in the countries where this event takes place, in the belief that a greater awareness of the culture, tradition and life of the different communities living in the same country or city helps people to know the "other", and thus, strengthens communication and dialogue between cultures in the country.
History
The annual event was initiated in 1996 by the B'nai Brith of StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
département Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
together with the local Agency for developpement of tourism. It now involves twenty-seven European countries including Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. The original aim of the day was to permit access to, and ultimately restore, long abandoned synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s of architectural value like those of Wolfisheim
Wolfisheim
Wolfisheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.- References :*...
, Westhoffen
Westhoffen
Westhoffen is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, Pfaffenhoffen
Pfaffenhoffen
Pfaffenhoffen is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:* -External links:*...
, Struth
Struth
Struth is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, Diemeringen
Diemeringen
Diemeringen is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, Ingwiller
Ingwiller
Ingwiller is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.The commune lies within the North-Vosges natural park.-History:The first known mention of Ingwiller dates from the year 742 a.C...
or Mackenheim
Mackenheim
Mackenheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
.
In 2000, a partnership was created between B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
and the other organizations that currently participate in organizing the day's events.
Activities
On this day exhibitions, concerts, panel discussions, lectures and excursions are organized in many EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries. Topics such as Jewish neighborhoods
Jewish Quarter (diaspora)
In the Jewish Diaspora, a Jewish quarter is the area of a city traditionally inhabited by Jews. Jewish quarters, like the Jewish ghettos in Europe, were often the outgrowths of segregated ghettos instituted by the surrounding Christian authorities. A Yiddish term for a Jewish quarter or...
, the coexistence of cultures, exhibitions on sculpture, painting, print, music and Jewish religious objects are discussed.
Celebration Days
- 1999: September 5th
- 2000: September 6th
- 2001: September 6th - "Judaism and the Arts"
- 2002: September 6th - "Jewish Calendar and celebrations in Art, Music and Gastronomy"
- 2003: September 6th - "Pesach"
- 2004: September 6th - "Judaism and Education"
- 2005: September 6th - "The Heritage of Jewish Cooking"
- 2006: September 6th - "The European Routes of Jewish Heritage"
- 2007: September 8th - "Testimonials"
- 2008: September 4th - "Jewish Music"
- 2009: September 6th - "Jewish Celebrations and Traditions"
- 2010: September 5th-15th - "Art in Judaism"