Jewish culture and music are integral to European and German culture. For this reason, internationally acclaimed concert guitarist Lucian Plessner developed an exciting musical program for the 2021 “1700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany” anniversary year, which has been touring successfully ever since. The program, Jewish Music — What Is It?" Sephardic and Ashkenazi Musical Creations from Al-Andalus to Modern Europe and America, is a musical journey from the early Middle Ages to the present day. It combines impressive compositions with reflections on Jewish artists' willingness and ability to integrate into different countries and eras. Jewish composers from the United States and Latin America have also contributed their works to this unique program.

Starting in November 2025, Plessner will present the program for the first time in Germany, in the ShUM-Cities of Speyer, Worms, and Mainz.

Saturday, November 29, 2025, at 6 p.m. Worms
SchUM-Lab, Neumarkt 10, 67547 Worms
Register at laura.karnasch_at_schumstaedte.de.

Sunday, November 30, 2025, 5 p.m. Speyer
Beith Shalom Synagogue, Am Weidenberg 3, 67346 Speyer
Registration: laura.karnasch_at_schumstaedte.de.

Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 6 p.m. Mainz
Landesmuseum Mainz, Große Bleiche 49-51, 55116 Mainz
Registration: anmeldung_at_gdke.rlp.de.

The concert series is sponsored by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland Security, as well as the Federal Government Commissioner for Jewish Life and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, Dr. Felix Klein. Thanks to this generous sponsorship, participation is free of charge.

Professor Brigitte Mang, the ICOMOS Monitoring Group representative, recently visited our UNESCO World Heritage Site and was impressed by the commitment of everyone involved. Since its recognition, Prof. Mang and her colleague Dr. Markus Blaich have advised us on matters relating to protection, preservation and communication.

Speyer: At the "Judenhof", the focus was on renovating the west wall of the women's shul and the planning of educational rooms: In the future, workshops and guided tours for children, young people and school groups will be offered there.

Mainz: Restored gravestones and the new enclosure were inspected at the "Judensand". Attention was also given to the construction of the visitor centre, which is set to open in 2026 and will be the first of three visitor centres for the serial UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Worms: Alongside the renovation work in the synagogue district, attention was given to the synagogue garden, which is currently being redesigned to include a barrier-free footbridge and an educational concept. The basement research in the "Judengasse" and the plans for the visitor centre in Worms, including the "ShUM Lab", were also presented.

"A lot has happened again in the ShUM-Sites over the past year. I am impressed by the commitment with which everyone involved is working successfully on the projects. The measures in the synagogue district in Worms to counter the effects of climate change, for example, are a positive nationwide example. With the opening of the visitor centre in Mainz next year and the other planned educational offerings in Speyer and Worms, we will also have central locations for education. These are important milestones in ensuring the protection, preservation, and education of UNESCO World Heritage for future generations. I would like to express my congratulations and appreciation to everyone involved." (Prof. Mang)

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