Our Flagship Programmes
Bringing Jewish heritage to life across Europe by connecting communities, places and stories.
European Days of Jewish Culture
Since 1999, the European Days of Jewish Culture have invited audiences to discover the diversity and richness of Jewish heritage and its place in Europe’s history. Inspired each year by a shared theme, activities take place across the continent to promote dialogue, recognition and exchange. AEPJ coordinates the initiative at European level, providing visibility, resources and support to participating organisations.
European Routes of Jewish Heritage
The European Routes connect historic sites, cultural landscapes and present-day Jewish life across the continent. Certified as a Cultural Route of the Council of Europe, the programme supports responsible travel, stronger local partnerships and new ways of understanding Jewish heritage as an integral part of Europe's shared history.
Featured Initiatives
European initiatives advancing the recognition, preservation and contemporary relevance of Jewish heritage.
Created by the European Commission and implemented by AEPJ, the Simone Veil Prize is an annual European award celebrating Jewish cultural heritage as a vital part of Europe’s shared story. It recognises local and cross-border initiatives that use heritage to foster dialogue, inclusion, historical understanding and democratic engagement.
Simone Veil (1927-2017) survived deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau and went on to become one of the defining European public figures of her generation. As France's Minister of Health and the first President of the directly elected European Parliament, she placed human dignity, reconciliation and European unity at the centre of public life. The Prize carries her name to honour initiatives that keep memory alive while helping to build a more inclusive and democratic Europe.
Created by the European Commission and implemented by AEPJ, the Simone Veil Prize is an annual European award celebrating Jewish cultural heritage as a vital part of Europe’s shared story. It recognises local and cross-border initiatives that use heritage to foster dialogue, inclusion, historical understanding and democratic engagement.
Simone Veil (1927-2017) survived deportation to Auschwitz-Birkenau and went on to become one of the defining European public figures of her generation. As France's Minister of Health and the first President of the directly elected European Parliament, she placed human dignity, reconciliation and European unity at the centre of public life. The Prize carries her name to honour initiatives that keep memory alive while helping to build a more inclusive and democratic Europe.
Handbook on Jewish Heritage
Developed by AEPJ at the request of the European Commission, this handbook presents Jewish heritage as a living and continuous part of European history, culture and identity. It brings together expert perspectives, examples of cooperation and practical recommendations for public authorities, heritage professionals, cultural organisations and communities working to understand, safeguard and transmit Jewish heritage.
The publication forms part of a pair of European resources, together with Presence, Plurality, Continuity: Handbook on Fostering Jewish Life in Europe.
Handbook on Jewish Heritage
Developed by AEPJ at the request of the European Commission, this handbook presents Jewish heritage as a living and continuous part of European history, culture and identity. It brings together expert perspectives, examples of cooperation and practical recommendations for public authorities, heritage professionals, cultural organisations and communities working to understand, safeguard and transmit Jewish heritage.
The publication forms part of a pair of European resources, together with Presence, Plurality, Continuity: Handbook on Fostering Jewish Life in Europe.
It Began with an Open Door
A local initiative that grew into a shared European story.
In 1996, eighteen Jewish heritage sites in Alsace opened their doors to the public. What began as a simple local initiative soon crossed borders, bringing together communities, volunteers and institutions around a shared conviction: Jewish heritage is part of Europe's history and must remain open, understood and alive. That first open door led to the European Days of Jewish Culture, the creation of AEPJ and a network that continues to grow across the continent.
