"Jewish Studies in Europe's Public Sphere: Research, Education, and Societal Impact"
Initiated by JEWLIF, the Conference of Applied Jewish Studies (CAJES) is a pan-European conference series uniting academia and practice, which will take place annually from 2026 to 2028. The series is guided by the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life (2021–2030).
At the European level, our work is explicitly supported by Katharina von Schnurbein, the European Commission Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life:
"As part of the EU Strategy on Combating Antisemitism and Fostering Jewish Life, the European Commission is currently establishing a European Research Hub on Contemporary Antisemitism and Jewish Life and Culture. This network aims to bring together researchers examining all aspects of antisemitism as well as Jewish life, thereby strengthening multidisciplinary and applied research across Europe. Initiatives such as the Conference of Applied Jewish Studies (CAJES) will play an important role in building this pan-European network."
The inaugural conference will take place from 16–18 November 2026 in Cologne. Our cooperation partners are the Martin Buber Institute for Jewish Studies and the Department for History Didactics and Public History at the University of Cologne’s Historical Institute.
Objectives of this year’s conference:
- Advancing practice-oriented contributions from Jewish Studies and related disciplines for educational initiatives, policy-making, and societal dialogue in Europe.
- Developing innovative strategies, policies, and educational materials aimed at preventing and combating antisemitism.
- Strengthening international networks among researchers, educators, and civil society actors.
