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Antisemitism is once again proliferating across Europe just eight decades after the Holocaust, with the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) recording a 44.2% annual rise in 2025 through August. In response to this growing crisis, European cities are coming together to reaffirm their commitment to social solidarity, cultural preservation, and historical truth by celebrating the deep and enduring legacy of European Jewish life, an ongoing story that spans over two millennia.
This year, nearly two dozen European municipal authorities are participating in the “Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage” project, co-organized by CAM and the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), with support from the Kiriaty Foundation International.
The initiative invites cities to take an active role in European Days of Jewish Culture (EDJC2025), an annual continent-wide venture that launches today and features cultural events, exhibitions, and educational forums, similar to Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) in the United States.
Through the lens of local programs, each city is helping shine a light on the richness of Jewish life, both past and present, and the profound contributions of Jewish communities to Europe’s social, cultural, and intellectual fabric. By embracing this shared heritage, the initiative nurtures intercultural dialogue and offers a proactive response to antisemitism.
City-led events include museum exhibitions, tributes to notable Jewish figures, concerts featuring Jewish music or composers, Jewish food festivals, public art displays, and educational workshops.
The “Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage” project has been endorsed by Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life.
“We are proud to join forces with the AEPJ for this vital project highlighting the rich, diverse, and enduring legacy of Jewish life across Europe,” said CAM Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban. “At a time when antisemitism is surging, it is more vital than ever to shine a light on the profound contributions of Jewish communities to our shared European identity. This initiative is not only a celebration of culture and history — it is a statement of unity, resilience, and hope. Together, we are forging a future in which Jewish heritage is not only remembered but embraced as a living, vibrant part of the collective European story.”
AEPJ Director Victor Sorenssen stated, “Through the ‘Cities Embracing Jewish Heritage’ project, AEPJ endorses that celebrating Jewish life and heritage is one of the most powerful ways to counter antisemitism. By opening spaces where communities can encounter the richness of Jewish history, culture, and creativity, we not only preserve memory but also nurture connection and understanding. This initiative turns remembrance into resilience, ensuring that Jewish heritage is seen not as a relic of the past, but as a vital and cherished part of Europe’s present and future.”
The participating cities in 2025 include:
Bialystok (Poland), Bonn (Germany), Lucena (Spain), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Vilnius (Lithuania), Tarazona (Spain), Płońsk (Poland), Magdeburg (Germany), Lviv (Ukraine) – Culture Fund and Agency of Regional Development, Kragujevac (Serbia), Fermo (Italy), Miskolc (Hungary), Lackenbach (Austria), L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (France), Maribor (Slovenia), Glasgow (Scotland, UK), Cavaillon (France), Biatorbágy (Hungary), Łęczna (Poland), and Großwarasdorf (Austria).
CAM works hand-in-hand with municipal authorities on a daily basis to secure and nurture Jewish life in cities throughout Europe and around the world.
In November, city leaders from across Europe will convene in the French capital for the CAM-organized 2025 Paris Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, held under the banner of “Defending Values, Promoting Culture, Inspiring Change,” and chaired by Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo.
