The Jewish Museum of Switzerland undergoes many changes and proposes many events for 2025-6. Here’s our interview with Barbara Haene, scientific assistant and events manager at the museum, sharing some of those undertakings…

Jguideeurope: Which events will be organized for this year’s edition of the EDJC?
Barbara Haene: The Jewish Museum of Switzerland is in the process of moving to a new building at Vesalgasse 5 in Basel. On the European Day of Jewish Culture, we will unveil Frank Stella’s artwork ‘Jeziory’, which we adapted to architectural scale on our façade. ‘Jeziory’ is part of a series of works by Frank Stella inspired by Polish wooden synagogues that were destroyed by the Nazis during World War II. In their honor, we are offering Polish food and the klezmer concert ‘From the Shtetl to the Big Apple’ with Michael Heitzler’s band. In the afternoon, join our arts and crafts team to make bookmarks. Institutions from eight Swiss cities and towns are taking part in this year’s EDJC. In Zurich, one of the events includes a presentation on ‘Zurich Jewry as reflected in literature’, including lectures and films on various Jewish authors and publishers and a literary walk through Zurich. Some cities also offer guided tours of synagogues.

Last year you mentioned that guided tours have been very successful. Can you share some emotional moment about such a tour?
On our Jewish-Muslim tours, the mutual recognition and acknowledgement of the similarities between the religions was always an eye-opener. Especially when it came to problems that affect both communities: such as the fact that in Switzerland, coffins for the deceased are mandatory, the lack of space for Muslim or Jewish cemeteries, and also common traditions of calligraphy (such as on Ketubbot/Nikah certificates).

Are there other events planned for 2025-6?
As our museum will reopen on 30 November 2025, we will be offering a series of opening events in the autumn. In December, we are planning a weekly themed tour of our new building. A highlight of our 2026 events programme will be children’s concerts accompanied by the well-known Basel klezmer band Bait Jaffe in May.

Do you think such cultural events help in the fight against the rise of antisemitism in Europe?
I certainly hope so. I see events such as the European Day of Jewish Culture as an opportunity to engage in dialogue, broaden our horizons and experience the many facets of Jewish culture. But, of course, you always need to be willing to get involved by attending such an event in the first place.