Challenging Conversations

A video series of conversations about Jewish Heritage, Culture and Communal Life in Europe

Marking 25 years since the Foundation was created by the late Lord Jacob Rothschild, each Challenging Conversations video focuses on a topic related to an area of work supported by the Foundation.

The conversations are presented by different staff members, who are joined by notable figures from archive and museum directors, to community leaders and academics.

Watch the videos below

These feature discussions including:

Endangered Jewish Community Archives – the risks to Jewish archives from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and declining communities in Hungary
Jewish Communal Life – a conversation between leaders of established and grassroots Jewish communal organisations
Jewish Academic Studies – a reflection on the current state of academic Jewish studies in Europe
Jewish Museums – what Jewish museums may look like in 25 years.

The videos will be released throughout the Spring of 2026.

We have been privileged to support a diverse range of organisations and their fabulous staff who are committed to sustaining Jewish life and preserving Jewish heritage and culture across Europe. These videos offer a glimpse into their work and raise complex issues which will help the Foundation to understand, and prepare for future challenges in the areas we fund.

Sally Berkovic, CEO of the Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe

Episode One: Endangered Jewish Community Archives

In the first video to be released, Dr Gabor Kadar, Director of Yerusha and the Endangered Jewish Community Archives Project at Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe is joined by:

Dr Zsuzsanna Toronyi, Director, The Hungarian Jewish Museum and Archives
Dr David Fishman, Professor of Jewish History, Jewish Theological Seminary (New York).

Dr Gabor Kadar

In this conversation, Gabor takes a closer look at archives that document Jewish life and history which are at risk of being neglected, lost or destroyed. He asks his guests to consider the various threats to these archives and the ability of archivists to work in the most challenging of circumstances.

Episode Two: Jewish Communal Life

Published 15 April 2026

Presenter Daniela Greiber, creator of Kaleidoscope and Jewish Communal Life Grants Manager at Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe is joined by:

Szilvi Somlai, Head of Department for Jewish Identity and Belonging, Jewish Community of Stockholm
Nir Geva, Chairperson of Machon Kehilot.

Daniela Greiber

In this conversation, Daniela and her guests explore what established communal organisations and grassroots movements can learn from each other. They discuss the function and limitations of key communal infrastructure and the energy and vibrancy volunteers can be to organisations of all sizes.

Episode Three: Academic Jewish Studies

Published 28 April 2026

Dr Ruchama Johnston-Bloom, Academic Jewish Studies Grants Manager at Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe hears from:

Professor Irene Zwiep, Professor of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, University of Amsterdam
Professor Marçin Wodziński, Professor of Jewish Studies and Literature, University of Wrocław

Dr Ruchama Johnston-Bloom

In this conversation, Ruchama asks Professor Zwiep and Professor Wodziński, two academics with long careers in Jewish Studies, to reflect on why the field has changed and where it might be going. They discuss the beleaguered state of the humanities in general, the current political and economic circumstances which shape the current situation and offer suggestions to how the field should respond.

Episode Four: Jewish Museums

Published 12 May 2026

In the final video to be released, Dr Brigitte Sion, curator of the Judaica Index and Museum Grants Manager at Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe brings together Professor Barbara Kirshenblatt-Gimblett, Professor Emerita at New York University and Ronald S. Lauder Chief Curator of the Core Exhibition, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and Professor Mirjam Wenzel, Director of the Jewish Museum Frankfurt and Honorary Professor of Jewish Studies, Goethe University and Chair of the Association of European Jewish Museums to reflect on the future of Jewish museums.