Here’s some good news…The AEPJ has announced that the annual European Day of Jewish Culture will go ahead in September, with enhanced digital and online activities where on-site programming is not possible.
Meanwhile, a growing number of Jewish museums and other heritage sites have been reopening, with the easing of COVID-19 measures in some countries — we are trying to keep up on this list.
Kickoff day for the annual EDJC — which celebrated its 20th birthday last year — is scheduled for September 6, with many activities scheduled before and after that date. The EDJC theme this year is “Jewish Journeys.” Last year, more than 1,200 EDJC events took place in 29 countries. The Day is coordinated by the AEPJ (European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage).
“We are pleased to inform you that the EDJC 2020 will take place,” the AEPJ said in a statement on its web site.
We firmly believe in the capacity of the organisation and the institutions involved to adapt to the circumstances, as they have been demonstrating, by promoting for instance, activity through digital means. In this sense, national and regional coordinators are the agents that must evaluate the possibilities of carrying out physical activities or to opt directly for the organization of digital activities, while fully respecting all the containment measures taken at national level.
From the AEPJ’s side, we have started to work on digital options and we will prepare a special online programme for the opening day. Likewise, the National Library of Israel is also adapting the content of the exhibition “Jewish Journeys” so that it can be presented online.
Although the date of the kick-off of the Festival will remain, as usual, the first Sunday of September, we want to give maximum flexibility to coordinators so that they can establish their program of activities on the dates that best suit their reality, even if it is weeks after the kick-off date.
Click here to read the full statement
Click here to read the report on the 2019 EDJC
Click here to read out growing list of Jewish museums and heritage sites that are reopening
Click here to read JHE coordinator Ruth Ellen Gruber’s reflections on the 20th anniversary of the EDJC (she took part in the meeting that led to its establishment)