As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Minister of Culture of Luxembourg, Mr Eric Thill,

Chair of the Ministers’ Deputies, dear Patrick,

President of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage, the AEPJ, dear François,

Representative of the President of the Grand Est Region, Ms Roysner-Bloch,

Municipal Councillor of Strasbourg and former Minister of Culture for France, Ms Trautmann,

Ambassadors,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to congratulate the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) on its twentieth anniversary.

Over the course of the past two decades,
this Association has done exceptional work.

By promoting Jewish culture, you not only preserve its rich and profound heritage,

But it also renews and reinvigorates it –

And it helps us to open the minds of current and future generations to the extraordinary contribution of Jewish individuals and communities to the history and progress of our continent.

Because, if by learning about this cultural story gives a sense of pride and self-discovery for some Jewish people –

It is equally important for people from all backgrounds to understand the deep, diverse and positive impact that Jewish arts, science and creativity have given to Europe for centuries.

Just take the philosopher Spinoza, or
Hannah Arendt, and Simone Weil –

And the great innovators: Sigmund Freud,
Marie Curie, and Albert Einstein –

Or the writers Roth, Zweig, and Levi.

Or for that sake, the painters Chagall, Modigliani, and Soutine.

The list is extensive, so these are just a few prominent examples of Jewish individuals whose thoughts, talents and skills have enriched us all.

As a matter of fact, European cultural history cannot be fully understood without the context of Jewish cultural history.

And, it has been this way for centuries, and it will remain this way thanks to the presence of Jewish life and culture on our continent today.

Many highlights of that great Jewish story are captured in the European Route of Jewish Heritage –

Part of the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe Network.

This Route was established in the same year as the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) – so 20 years ago.

Which not only set it up –

But the European Association has also worked to nurture and expand it to its current, very healthy state.

As the European Route of Jewish Heritage now brings together members from 24 European countries.

It includes local, national and international cultural and heritage institutions –

With public bodies and private foundations –

As well as NGOs and Jewish community federations.

And physical sites include monuments and memorials –

Archaeological sites –

But also synagogues, cemeteries, and ritual baths –

As well as the synagogue that many of you will visit later today, here in Strasbourg.

On the route there are also archives, libraries and museums –

And the increased use of technology to help bring much of this to life –

With ever greater opportunities for learning, intercultural dialogue and building a shared understanding of history.

This is exactly what the Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe indeed were established for –

And I believe that in itself is a great achievement.

But of course, the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage’s (AEPJ) activities encompass much more than this.

Be it its celebrated European Days of Jewish Culture –

Its Networks Overcoming Antisemitism Project –

Or its Mi Dor Le Dor Network –

Are further, examples of its valuable work –

Overall, it helps open up access to culture, tackling prejudice, and providing the training and skills needed for future work on Jewish heritage issues.

So, I take the opportunity of this anniversary to congratulate everyone who has contributed to all of this –

But also to congratulate you in particular
Mr Moyse, the President of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ).

Along with Secretary General, Ms Assumpció Hosta, and Director, Victor Sorenssen.

Your joint work is no doubt of crucial importance.

From the Council of Europe perspective, all these achievements sit alongside many of our related initiatives and work, such as the European Heritage Days, run jointly with the European Union –

And which make Jewish heritage accessible to wider audiences.

We also have the Faro Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society –

Which empowers citizens to run various projects to help preserve our historical heritage.

One such example being the initiative of pupils in a school in the Polish town of Frampol –

Who have taken up the responsibility for the upkeep of a Jewish cemetery, that had been neglected since the town’s Jewish population perished under Nazi occupation.

Let me also mention the European Heritage Strategy for the 21st century.

Which promotes innovative ideas to create access and understanding of all heritage and culture –
in Europe –

Including Jewish heritage and culture.

Again, let us look to Poland, which had such a large Jewish community before the Nazi atrocities, as it provides us with three good examples of what this strategy means in practice.

Warsaw hosts the TISH Jewish Food Festival.

There is anti-discrimination education for professionals provided at the POLIN Museum, also in Warsaw -

And then there is the POLIN museum’s “Museum on Wheels” –

An interesting educational exhibition on the History of Polish Jews.

This travelling glass pavilion visits small Polish towns where Jews were once an important part of the local community, and where traces of their presence are still visible today.

It is a great way to reconnect local people of today with the history of their towns.

Well, all of this is both important and uplifting.

But at the same time we must be equally mindful of the great harm that has been done to Jewish heritage –

To Jewish life –

In the holocaust of course –

But also in the wider history of pogroms, violence and hate on this continent.

And regrettably today we see a malicious increase of antisemitic attacks in Europe, in response to recent and tragic events in the Middle East –

It is vital that we act against this old, familiar and terrible prejudice.

For this, we have the work of our Special Representative on antisemitic, anti-Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes –

And I would also like to mention our General Policy Recommendation Number 9 on preventing and combating antisemitism –

By the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

This ECRI Recommendation helps guide national authorities in strengthening criminal law, raising awareness in schools, and ensuring the systematic collection of information about antisemitic offences.

Its aim is also to uphold the wellbeing of Jewish people and their culture –

Recognising that this is essential for our shared sense of security, dignity and belonging.

Dear friends,

This leads me to my last point.

This year is not only the twentieth anniversary of the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ) –

But also the 70th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention –

Which has been joined by every one of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states.

The European Cultural Convention reminds us that while countries and communities should take pride in their traditions and achievements –

We should also recognise that these overlap and add up to the fascinating, inspiring and unique mosaic of Europe that we all benefit from today.

You see that in diversity, there is also unity -

And always a route to peace.

Thank you for your attention.