How can experiences from different regions of Europe and the perspectives of diverse stakeholders contribute to developing effective strategies for safeguarding Jewish cemetery heritage?

Context

Developing effective public policy for minority heritage – including Jewish heritage – remains a complex challenge that requires cooperation between diverse stakeholders, institutions, local communities, experts, and civil society actors. The two-day event in Barcelona, combining site-specific work with a forum for the exchange of experiences and expertise, sought to create conditions for discussing both inspiring solutions and approaches that proved ineffective in practice. As a result, the discussions were grounded in concrete experiences and practical realities rather than purely theoretical considerations.

 

Highlights

  • Bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders and receiving support from reputable governmental institutions in both Poland and Barcelona
  • Demonstrating that different stakeholders can contribute valuable and complementary perspectives to discussions on real needs and potential changes in public policy.
  • Incorporating both successful and unsuccessful examples, enabling a more honest exchange of experiences.

 

Case Study 22: “Commemorating Jewish Cemeteries. Strategies, Good Practices, Future Directions,” Barcelona (Spain)

 

Description

The international seminar Commemorating Jewish Cemeteries. Strategies, Good Practices, Future Directions, held in Barcelona in October 2025, explored contemporary public policy approaches to the protection, commemoration, and management of Jewish cemetery heritage in Europe. The event brought together heritage professionals, representatives of public authorities, civil society organizations, researchers, artists, and members of Jewish communities from several European countries.

Organized in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Barcelona and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, the seminar combined site-based activities, artistic interventions, and expert discussions to examine how local and transnational actors can work together to safeguard endangered Jewish burial sites and strengthen their role within contemporary memory cultures.

The programme was centered around the medieval Jewish cemetery on Montjuïc, which served both as a case study and a site of direct engagement. Artistic interventions and on-site activities in Montjuïc created a space for reflection on the relationship between memory, landscape, and contemporary forms of commemoration. These activities were complemented by an international conference at Casa Adret, featuring case studies, expert presentations, panel and roundtable discussions focused on public policy strategies, local practices, and effective approaches to preserving Jewish cemetery heritage.

Particular attention was given to the challenges faced by municipalities, Jewish communities, NGOs, and heritage institutions in addressing neglected or endangered cemetery sites. Discussions highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaboration, participatory governance models, and community-based memory practices. The seminar also emphasized the role of cultural diplomacy and international cooperation in advancing sustainable heritage policies.

The Polish contribution presented a broad spectrum of local experiences and institutional approaches. Representatives of public institutions from Przemyśl, Białystok, Tarnów, and Kraków shared examples of municipal and heritage-led initiatives, while participants from Warsaw, Wrocław, and Gdańsk – including representatives of Jewish communities, NGOs, and memory activists – discussed grassroots practices of commemoration, education, and civic engagement related to Jewish heritage sites.

By combining local perspectives with international exchange, the seminar created a platform for sharing experiences, identifying common challenges, and discussing future directions for public policy concerning Jewish cemeteries as sites of memory, heritage, and cultural responsibility.

Challenges

  • HOW can common ground be established between stakeholders representing different regions of Europe, institutional contexts, and perspectives on Jewish heritage preservation?
  • HOW can one event can simultaneously create space for the sharing of expert knowledge and for more open, informal discussions based on lived experience and local perspectives?
  • HOW can a site-specific example contribute to broader discussions on policy recommendations and possible solutions?

 

Solutions

  • Establishing a non-hierarchical framework that brings together diverse stakeholders in an inclusive event format.
  • Integrating site-specific practice with institutional, policy-level, and activist perspectives to create a more comprehensive understanding of challenges and potential solutions.
  • Hosting the event in a “neutral” space that is not symbolically dominated by any single group, enabling all participants to engage on equal footing and approach the discussion as a mutual learning process.

 

Key Takeaways

  • Creating structured conditions for the exchange of perspectives and experiences among diverse stakeholders can support the development of concrete policy recommendations.
  • Combining site-specific activities with panel sessions and discussions enriches the process by bringing together practical, on-the-ground engagement and theoretical or policy-oriented reflection.
  • Connecting examples from different geographical and institutional contexts can be particularly valuable when they are framed within a broader conceptual framework, such as Jewish cemetery heritage, allowing for comparative insights and shared learning.

 

See also Case Studies: 2, 4.3, 4.4