Paideia: The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden

Dedicated to the revival of Jewish culture in Europe, Paideia – The European Institute for Jewish Studies in Sweden, educates leaders for Europe, such as academicians and community activists, in Jewish textual sources which serve as the wellsprings of Jewish and modern civilization.

Paideia is a European academic Institute founded in 2000 through grants from the Swedish government and the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation as an academic and applied institute of excellence, with the mandate to nurture the renewal of European Jewish culture, to support cross-cultural dialogue, and to promote a positive paradigm of a minority culture within European societies.

Paideia…

– has a pan-European approach, each year educating individuals from 14-16 different European countries. The pan-European element allows for cooperation and the exchange of best practices over borders and across institutional boundaries.

– is a pluralistic, non-denominational institution, promoting inclusiveness, a variety of expression and critical thinking. Paideia has among its graduates people with Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds.

– emphasizes the education towards a positive and democratic paradigm of minority presence in Europe, through creating programs that are in dialogue with the wider society, through encouraging the inclusion of persons with an interest in promoting Jewish culture, regardless of denomination or affiliation, and through engaging in interfaith and intercultural dialogue.

– links academic studies to activism: By adding practical training to its programs, Paideia makes sure that the fellows return to their respective countries as leaders in their communities and multipliers of their acquired knowledge.

– provides the connection between European activists and Israeli culture, by bringing more Israeli faculty to its programs than any other European educational institution, by incorporating Israeli fellows in the programs, and by providing integrated courses in Israel its during programs.

– maintains close cooperation with external organizations, both locally with the Stockholm Jewish community and various religious and cultural institutions, and  internationally within various fields, including academia, social entrepreneurship, community-building, education and culture.

– works assiduously to support Paideia alumni through follow-up programs. As invaluable informants on Jewish life in Europe, they are regularly called upon as  dialogue partners and advisors to Paideia.