September 6, a Day to Talk About Love

What is love for Jews and Judaism? The late Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Jonathan Sacks, considered Judaism a religion primarily made of love. This love is expressed through three key concepts: love toward God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”; love toward your neighbor, whom you should love “as yourself”; and love toward the stranger, “for you were also once strangers in a foreign land.”

The next edition of the 2026 European Day of Jewish Culture, which will take place on September 6, will focus on these themes. Love, in all its nuances, will be the common thread of the activities and initiatives taking place in more than two dozen countries.

The European Association for the Preservation and Promotion of Jewish Culture and Heritage (AEPJ), which coordinates the events, chose this theme as a message. In these trying times, the AEPJ stated that “the best way to celebrate Jewish heritage in Europe is to put the spotlight on the spark of care and passion that fuels Jewish life and keeps it going through joy and sorrow.”

In Judaism, love is romantic and familial, communal and divine, joyful and fierce. It courses through Jewish life in countless forms, from mystical poetry to Yiddish lullabies, and from the Song of Songs to Leonard Cohen’s words.”

In 2025, the European Day of Jewish Culture was dedicated to another beloved Jewish theme: books. The leading city in Italy was Soncino, in the province of Cremona (Lombardy), where the first complete Hebrew Bible with vocalization was printed in 1488. The leading Italian city for 2026 has not yet been announced. In the meantime, the UCEI sent out a “save the date” reminding us that love, in all its forms, has a central role in Jewish culture and ethics. In this perspective, love is not confined to the individual dimension, but rather has strong community implications related to action and responsibility.