With an estimated 8,000 Jewish burial sites across Europe, the mission to protect them remains vast. As such, it is vital methodologies are identified to protect these vulnerable sites. This requires the support of local communities and the development of sustainable, cross-generational models by which local Jewish heritage becomes local heritage—owned by all so the responsibility for its protection becomes a collective, partnered effort.
This catalogue, produced by ESJF European Jewish Cemeteries Initiative, Centropa, and Foundation for Jewish Heritage with the support of the European Commission, provides an extensive guide to preservation initiatives from across nine European countries, from small-scale interventions by local residents to transnational partnerships.
By examining these success stories, we can take valuable lessons, and begin to establish a framework for best practices for intervention and ultimately, for the long-term, sustainable protection of Jewish cemeteries across Europe.