The four co-ordinating organisations of the European Day of Jewish Culture, namely B'nai B'rith Europe, l'Agence du Tourisme du Bas-Rhin (ADT-Alsace), the European Council of Jewish Communities and the Spanish Routes of Jewish Heritage (Red de Juderias de Espana) decided to pursue their co-operation by creating the European Routes of Jewish Heritage.

This route will be an opportunity to show the richness of the Jewish contribution in Europe, without reducing in whatsoever degree the horrors of the Shoah on the Jewish People. Thus, behind the creation of such a route, the idea is to adopt a more positive approach to Jewish history in Europe, as well as the Jews' history in Europe.

A European Route of Jewish Heritage would consist in the highlighting of the buildings (synagogues and cemeteries, mikve...) which have been left to us by the Jewish communities across Europe. In doing so, it will inevitably tackle the wider issues of Judaism, Jewish culture and Jewish traditions. A European route of Jewish heritage would thus, make the Jewish sites more visible whilst at the same time, making the cults in Judaism more apparent, transparent and accessible to European citizens.

The synagogue and the cemetery are two examples of the architectural heritage which Jews have granted to Europe. Each of these buildings has an important symbolic meaning.

objectives of the route

This project contributes to the education process on tolerance of the citizens. It illustrates the diversity of humanity as well as the richness of the customs of a minority.

It proposes a different approach and highlights the federative factor of Judaism and the unity of the Jewish people throughout Europe and history. It offers the possibility to discover the many facets of the European identity and as well that of Judaism and the Jewish people.

The Route intends to make the Europeans aware of the cultural richness brought by the Jews across Europe during their stay in so many different regions. It further wishes to preserve and enhance part of the European cultural heritage that the Jewish sites scattered around Europe represent.

This itinerary, through the visual exhibition of the so-called "buildings or remains" is to highlight Europe's multiculturalism brought about partly by the exchange with the Jewish people. It should be noted that this exchange and influence of lifestyles in a two way process. Indeed, Jewish heritage is historical evidence that the Jewish people were affected and influenced by the society they lived in. (eg: architecture of synagogues, use of languages such as Yiddish, Ladino...). The European Route of Jewish Heritage will mark the influence the legacy Jews have left in many regions of Europe throughout history.

The European Route of Jewish Heritage will cross Europe from the South to the North and from Western Europe to Central and Eastern Europe. Jewish sites will be linked by common elements, by a Jewish heritage, which is a full part of the historical and cultural European heritage. The highlight of the European Route of Jewish heritage will be based on a number of events, with places particularly rich in historical references, which are representative of European culture as a whole.

A strong focus on Eastern and Central European countries should greatly contribute to the spiritual and historical rebuilding of destroyed Jewish Communities, to a better knowledge of Europe's own history, and to creating a strong incentive for Western European Jews to reassess their own heritage in a more positive light.

The Route of Jewish Heritage would not only enable visitors to discover the history of the Jewish people but would also enable them to know better their local and national history. Indeed, there are Jewish communities across Europe. From Dublin to Ankara and from Helsinki to Malta, these communities have shared the fate of the local inhabitants of a region or of a country. Together, they have suffered the wars and have enjoyed the victories of their nations. Together, they have created their own values, their ways of life and a common heritage, our Europe.

The Jewish People like all other European citizens have played a role in the building of Europe. Jews have worked in their way for a European ideal. From their experience and that of others, they have played an important role in constructing a Europe full of values and ideals of freedom, rights and duties.