Thuringia: Start of European Days of Jewish Culture in Erfurt

Thuringia
Start of European Days of Jewish Culture in Erfurt

01.09.2024, 05:07

It is not without reason that the days important for European cultural heritage officially begin this year in Thuringia’s state capital.

Erfurt (dpa/th) – The European Days of Jewish Culture officially open today in Erfurt. The organizers and various Jewish sites will introduce themselves at the New Synagogue, the city administration announced. Cities in 20 European countries are taking part in the cultural days this year with 300 events. The initiator is the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ). One reason for the opening in Erfurt is the World Heritage title that UNESCO awarded the city last year because of its Jewish medieval buildings.

Part of the events in Erfurt is the presentation of a new route in the AEPJ network, which traces Europe’s Jewish heritage along networks of routes between places. In addition to Erfurt, other places in Thuringia, Germany and abroad are part of the new route, which follows the traces of European Jews in the Middle Ages.

For example, Mainz, Worms and Speyer with the so-called Schum sites, which are also part of the World Heritage, and many other places are part of the route. “We have already held talks with all of these places and now want to consider together how each of them can imagine working together,” said Erfurt’s UNESCO representative Karin Sczech.

The European Days of Jewish Culture have been organized throughout Europe every first Sunday in September since 1999. Concerts, readings, guided tours and other events are intended to demonstrate the importance and diversity of Judaism.