From September 7 to December 6, the ShUM-Cities Speyer, Worms, and Mainz will host the ShUM Culture Days 2025 to showcase the rich history, lively traditions, and creative expressions of Jewish life in the Upper Rhine region in a special way. The diverse program includes concerts ranging from jazz to pop, as well as readings, theater tours, inspiring lectures, discussion panels, and exhibitions. Whether you are a culture fan, history lover, or curious explorer, the ShUM Culture Days appeal to a wide audience and offer a meeting place where interreligious dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared celebration take center stage.

Speyer: September 27 to November 23
Worms: October 27 to November 16
Mainz: September 7 to December 6

For more information and program flyers, visit www.schumstaedte.de/schum/schum-kulturtage/ or follow @welterbe.schum on social media.

On 7 September, around 30 European countries will celebrate the European Day of Jewish Culture (EDJC) together with the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ). The ShUM-Cities Speyer, Worms and Mainz, as well as the Jewish Medieval Heritage in Erfurt — added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 — will offer a diverse programme in September, providing exciting insights into their rich cultural heritage and the unique characteristics of these sites, as well as community life then and now.

In addition to exciting guided tours of the ShUM Community Centre in Speyer's 'Judenhof', the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Worms and the old Jewish cemetery 'Judensand' in Mainz, entry to the Museum SchPIRA and the Jewish Museum Raschi-Haus in Worms will be free on 7 September.

In cooperation with the Worms City Library, the ShUM-Cities Speyer, Worms, Mainz association will set up a media table starting September 5th. This will be available to visitors throughout September, inviting them to browse, read, and borrow. The table offers a wide range of literature, including works on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Speyer, Worms and Mainz, as well as books on Jewish life and culture, anti-Semitism, biographies, children's books and novels.

On 7 September, the state capital of Mainz will celebrate two special events: The European Days of Jewish Culture and the opening of this year's Mainz ShUM Culture Days, which will feature an open day at the New Synagogue in Mainz. Visitors can experience Jewish history and culture up close together with the Jewish Community of Mainz-Rheinhessen. Guided tours of the New Synagogue and tastings of Jewish specialities will be rounded off by a special opening concert.

On 10 September, visitors to Erfurt will have the unique opportunity to join Dr Karin Sczech, the city's Commissioner for Jewish Medieval Heritage, and Gudrun Noll on a tour tracing the history of Erfurt's second Jewish community. The largely intact medieval old town of Erfurt contains unique architectural evidence of the important Jewish community from the period between the end of the 11th and the middle of the 14th century.

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)

In order to provide an improved user experience, updated content and new features, our website is currently being redesigned.

As a result, some areas and functions may be temporarily unavailable or inaccessible. But don’t worry – we'll be back soon!

You can still find valuable informations about the ShUM-Sites in Speyer, Worms and Mainz, as well as helpful details for planning your visit, on our website.

Stay tuned – we'll keep you updated, and we look forward to presenting our new website to you soon.

Thank you for your understanding!

For three years, the synagogue and mikvah were hidden behind construction fences and covered by protective roofs. Now, the construction site has disappeared!
The synagogue district will soon be revealed in all its new splendour — the synagogue garden is currently undergoing extensive renovation and redesign. A wooden walkway will guide visitors through the garden, making the exterior of the women's school, synagogue, teaching house, and mikvah visually accessible once more.
Thanks to its barrier-free design, the synagogue garden will be more inclusive and accessible than ever before. Additionally, interactive educational units will soon offer insights into the history and significance of the Worms synagogue district, which is one of the four components of the UNESCO World Heritage ShUM-Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz.

"We are delighted to be reopening the synagogue garden soon, so that visitors from Worms, the region and around the world can experience Jewish history and culture in the heart of our city" (Timo Horst, Head of Urban Development).

The project is being developed in close cooperation with:
◾ The Worms Lower Monument Protection Authority
◾ShUM-Cities association
◾The Rhineland-Palatinate State Monument Conservation Authority
◾The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior
◾The ICOMOS Monitoring Group Germany
◾ The municipal cultural coordination (idea and basic concept for the footbridge).

Did you know that traces of anti-Judaism can be found in the paintings of St. Peter's Cathedral in Worms, as well as in many other Christian churches? We need to talk about this!

During an afternoon of reflection and study, proven experts will help us take a look at these depictions, classify them historically, and discuss how to deal with them appropriately and responsibly today. Further information on the event will follow shortly.

Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Haus am Dom, Worms

The event is organized by the Cathedral Parish of St. Peter Worms and the Academy of the Diocese of Mainz, in cooperation with ShUM-Cities association.

From September 7 to December 6, the ShUM-Cities Speyer, Worms, and Mainz will host the ShUM Culture Days 2025 to showcase the rich history, lively traditions, and creative expressions of Jewish life in the Upper Rhine region in a special way. The diverse program includes concerts ranging from jazz to pop, as well as readings, theater tours, inspiring lectures, discussion panels, and exhibitions. Whether you are a culture fan, history lover, or curious explorer, the ShUM Culture Days appeal to a wide audience and offer a meeting place where interreligious dialogue, mutual understanding, and shared celebration take center stage.

Speyer: September 27 to November 23
Worms: October 27 to November 16
Mainz: September 7 to December 6

For more information and program flyers, visit www.schumstaedte.de/schum/schum-kulturtage/ or follow @welterbe.schum on social media.

On 7 September, around 30 European countries will celebrate the European Day of Jewish Culture (EDJC) together with the European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ). The ShUM-Cities Speyer, Worms and Mainz, as well as the Jewish Medieval Heritage in Erfurt — added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 — will offer a diverse programme in September, providing exciting insights into their rich cultural heritage and the unique characteristics of these sites, as well as community life then and now.

In addition to exciting guided tours of the ShUM Community Centre in Speyer's 'Judenhof', the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Worms and the old Jewish cemetery 'Judensand' in Mainz, entry to the Museum SchPIRA and the Jewish Museum Raschi-Haus in Worms will be free on 7 September.

In cooperation with the Worms City Library, the ShUM-Cities Speyer, Worms, Mainz association will set up a media table starting September 5th. This will be available to visitors throughout September, inviting them to browse, read, and borrow. The table offers a wide range of literature, including works on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Speyer, Worms and Mainz, as well as books on Jewish life and culture, anti-Semitism, biographies, children's books and novels.

On 7 September, the state capital of Mainz will celebrate two special events: The European Days of Jewish Culture and the opening of this year's Mainz ShUM Culture Days, which will feature an open day at the New Synagogue in Mainz. Visitors can experience Jewish history and culture up close together with the Jewish Community of Mainz-Rheinhessen. Guided tours of the New Synagogue and tastings of Jewish specialities will be rounded off by a special opening concert.

On 10 September, visitors to Erfurt will have the unique opportunity to join Dr Karin Sczech, the city's Commissioner for Jewish Medieval Heritage, and Gudrun Noll on a tour tracing the history of Erfurt's second Jewish community. The largely intact medieval old town of Erfurt contains unique architectural evidence of the important Jewish community from the period between the end of the 11th and the middle of the 14th century.

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)

In order to provide an improved user experience, updated content and new features, our website is currently being redesigned.

As a result, some areas and functions may be temporarily unavailable or inaccessible. But don’t worry – we'll be back soon!

You can still find valuable informations about the ShUM-Sites in Speyer, Worms and Mainz, as well as helpful details for planning your visit, on our website.

Stay tuned – we'll keep you updated, and we look forward to presenting our new website to you soon.

Thank you for your understanding!

For three years, the synagogue and mikvah were hidden behind construction fences and covered by protective roofs. Now, the construction site has disappeared!
The synagogue district will soon be revealed in all its new splendour — the synagogue garden is currently undergoing extensive renovation and redesign. A wooden walkway will guide visitors through the garden, making the exterior of the women's school, synagogue, teaching house, and mikvah visually accessible once more.
Thanks to its barrier-free design, the synagogue garden will be more inclusive and accessible than ever before. Additionally, interactive educational units will soon offer insights into the history and significance of the Worms synagogue district, which is one of the four components of the UNESCO World Heritage ShUM-Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz.

"We are delighted to be reopening the synagogue garden soon, so that visitors from Worms, the region and around the world can experience Jewish history and culture in the heart of our city" (Timo Horst, Head of Urban Development).

The project is being developed in close cooperation with:
◾ The Worms Lower Monument Protection Authority
◾ShUM-Cities association
◾The Rhineland-Palatinate State Monument Conservation Authority
◾The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior
◾The ICOMOS Monitoring Group Germany
◾ The municipal cultural coordination (idea and basic concept for the footbridge).

Did you know that traces of anti-Judaism can be found in the paintings of St. Peter's Cathedral in Worms, as well as in many other Christian churches? We need to talk about this!

During an afternoon of reflection and study, proven experts will help us take a look at these depictions, classify them historically, and discuss how to deal with them appropriately and responsibly today. Further information on the event will follow shortly.

Saturday, September 27, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Haus am Dom, Worms

The event is organized by the Cathedral Parish of St. Peter Worms and the Academy of the Diocese of Mainz, in cooperation with ShUM-Cities association.