The Association of European Jewish Museums (AEJM) was established in 1989 in Amsterdam as a non-profit association under Dutch law. It was jointly founded by the Jewish Historical Museum Amsterdam and the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire du Judaïsme in Paris. With 70 member institutions throughout Europe, AEJM represents the largest network of Jewish museums. Initially, AEJM primarily focused on connecting museum directors. Today, the association has evolved into an inclusive network that engages professionals across various museum roles, with a focus on the fields of curation, education, and communication.
AEJM Annual Conference 2022 in Frankfurt, Germany
Mission
The Association of European Jewish Museums (AEJM) is a leading force in preserving, promoting, and presenting Jewish cultural heritage across Europe. Since its foundation in 1989, AEJM has supported its members by fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and mutual understanding among Jewish heritage institutions. Our mission is to ensure the accurate representation and dynamic evolution of Jewish history, culture, and contemporary life in Europe.
AEJM is dedicated to creating shared cultural spaces that embrace diversity and inclusion. By addressing polarization and fostering unity, we strengthen connections across communities and contribute to a Europe united in its diversity. Firmly committed to combating antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, AEJM upholds democratic values and actively resists the political misuse of history.
By fostering intercultural dialogue and addressing discrimination, particularly antisemitism, AEJM seeks to build bridges between communities and contribute to a more inclusive and cohesive society beyond national borders. Through cultural engagement and mutual respect, we aim to tackle polarization and inspire understanding across divides in European society.
Vision
Our vision is to sustain and expand a European network of Jewish museums and institutions that collaborate to protect and promote Jewish heritage as a vital part of Europe’s shared cultural identity. We envision a Europe where Jewish culture is not only preserved but also widely understood, respected, and celebrated. By fostering intercultural dialogue and addressing discrimination, particularly antisemitism, AEJM seeks to build bridges between communities and contribute to a more inclusive and cohesive society beyond national borders. Through cultural engagement and mutual respect, we aim to tackle polarization and inspire understanding across divides in European society.
Objectives
Enhance Networking and Cooperation
Facilitate collaborative initiatives among Jewish museums and cultural heritage institutions across Europe, promoting knowledge exchange and creating opportunities for joint projects.
Advance Professional Education and Quality
Develop and deliver training programs that improve professional standards, knowledge, and innovation among museum colleagues, supporting their continuous learning.
Represent and Preserve Jewish Heritage
Support the preservation of Jewish material and intangible heritage, ensuring its accessibility to diverse audiences and representing Jewish narratives in a contemporary context.
Uphold Democratic Values and Combat Discrimination
Advocate for democratic principles, ethical standards, and human rights within the museum sector, supporting initiatives that tackle all forms of discrimination, including antisemitism.
Foster Cross-Sectoral Bridges
Strengthen partnerships with cultural, educational, and civic organizations in diverse fields to promote intercultural dialogue and enhance the visibility of Jewish culture and heritage.
Holds a degree in Political Science and Cultural Anthropology from Goethe University Frankfurt. He brings work experience from the Educational Department of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, where he has managed an educational project in cooperation with the Federal Agency for Civic Education and several other projects in the past. As a freelance project manager and political educator, Jonathan has led a variety of cultural and educational initiatives, coordinating stakeholders, securing funding, and developing projects.
Online Communication Manager
Korbinian Böck
Holds a degree in Modern History and Oriental Studies from the University of Freiburg. He has over eight years’ experience ´working as an online editor and social media manager at the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, where he was responsible for the website, the social media, museum blog, newsletter and other digital offerings.
Ⓒ Jüdisches Museum Frankfurt
Chair
Mirjam Wenzel
Director of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt, Professor at Goethe-University Frankfurt. She is the author and co-editor of various books and catalogues on German-Jewish art and cultural history. She also works as a curator and has developed several international exhibitions.
Treasurer
Michal Vanek
Director of the Museum of Jewish Culture of the Slovak National Museum since 2021. He received his Master’s degree at the UNESCO World Heritage Studies of Brandenburg Technical University in Cottbus (Germany) and Doctorate from the Comenius University in Bratislava (Museum Studies / Museology). He started his professional career working on nomination of heritage sites for the UNESCO World Heritage List (Slovenia), and joined the Museum of Jewish Culture of the Slovak National Museum as a curator in 2009.
Board
Nisya Isman Allovi
Director and curator of The Quincentennial Foundation Museum Of Turkish Jews in Istanbul. She holds a degree in International Relations and Cultural Heritage and Tourism. She organizes education programs for school groups and guides, contributed to various publications on Turkish Jewish life, and writes to Şalom newspaper about Museum collections on a weekly base.
Ⓒ Photo: Museum POLIN
Board
Joanna Fikus
Head of Exhibitions Department at POLIN Museum in Warsaw and Cultural anthropologist. Joanna Fikus is a Member of the Board of the Jewish Historical Institute Association in Poland and of the Founders Council of the Jewish Community Center Warsaw.
Board
Petra Katzenstein
Director of the Jewish Museum Junior at the Jewish Cultural Quarter Amsterdam. Katzenstein studied drama therapy and psychodrama/social sciences at the University of Leiden. Since 1985, she has been part of the Jewish Museum in Amsterdam, where she is mainly involved in the education department and the children’s museum of the Jewish Cultural Quarter. She also worked on developing the I ASK method, which is highly recognized within the educational work of Jewish museums.
Board
Sharon Reichel
Curator at the National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah – MEIS, in Ferrara, Italy. She graduated at the University of Turin in Museology and has a master’s in business and management of Cultural Heritage. At the MEIS she coordinates the Museum’s cultural activities and exhibitions, curates temporary exhibitions, and is the Registrar. She is also active in grant writing and project managing.
Board
Michaela Sidenberg
Chief curator and deputy director of the Jewish Museum in Prague. Sidenberg is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Charles University in Prague. She began her career as the visual arts curator at the Jewish Museum in Prague in 1996. Over the years, she has contributed to numerous international projects focusing on different aspects of Jewish history, art, and popular culture, with exhibitions traveling to the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Japan.
Program Manager CEP
Felicitas Heimann-Jelinek
Studied Jewish Studies and Art History in Vienna and Tel Aviv. From 1993 until 2011, she was the chief curator of the Jewish Museum in Vienna. Since 2011 freelance curator, researcher, university lecturer and museum consultant, since 2012 in collaboration with Michaela Feurstein-Prasser (xhibit.at).
Program Manager CEP
Michaela Feurstein-Prasser
Holds a diploma in French Studies and History and a PHD in History. From 1993 until 2011 working in the Jewish Museum Vienna as head of the education department, then as curator. Since 2011 freelance curator and cultural mediator in Vienna, since 2012 in collaboration with Felicitas Heimann-Jelinek (xhibit.at).
