Commemoration of Jewish Culture, Tradition and Heritage Outside Western Europe: Introduction to the Thematic Section

The fourteenth issue of Colloquia Humanistica reflects on the evolving role of Jewish heritage in Central and Southeastern Europe, focusing on contemporary forms of commemorating Jewish culture, history, and memory in the region. The articles address two significant research challenges: the dominant position of Holocaust memory in academic and cultural discourse, and the insufficient inclusion of local perspectives. The presented case studies reveal the complex tensions between memory and politics, presence and absence, national and transnational narratives. Jewish heritage is portrayed here as a field of dynamic and ambiguous negotiations, shaped both by institutions and by grassroots initiatives as well as everyday remembrance practices.