Neighbours

Neighbours II (2026-2028)

Partners from Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands recently launched “Neighbours II: Building Bridges, Challenging Prejudice, Strengthening Communities”. Coordinated by HIAS Europe, the initiative brings Jewish, migrant, and other local communities together to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination through dialogue, education, and joint community action. The project will run from September 2026 to August 2028.

Building on the successful “Getting to Know Your Neighbour” model developed by the Amsterdam Liberal Jewish Community, as well as the previous EU-funded Neighbours project, the initiative seeks to create meaningful encounters that challenge stereotypes, build trust, and strengthen social cohesion at a time of growing polarisation across Europe.

Over the next two years, Neighbours II will engage approximately 1,500 young people through educational visits to synagogues and Jewish community spaces and establish five local interfaith and intercultural coalitions bringing together Jewish, Muslim, Christian, secular, migrant-led, and community organisations to address discrimination and promote solidarity.

The initiative is implemented by a consortium of diverse Jewish community partners, including the European Jewish Community Centre in Brussels, Dorvador in Paris, the Jewish Community HaKochaw in Unna, the Jewish Cultural Association Aviv in Valencia, and the Liberal Jewish Community of The Hague, each of which will lead activities in their respective cities. Through local activities in five European cities and the exchange of good practices across borders, the project seeks to contribute to wider European efforts to strengthen social cohesion and combat prejudice.

By empowering local leaders, young facilitators, and community organisations, Neighbours II aims to create sustainable networks for dialogue and concrete cooperation while contributing to broader European efforts to combat antisemitism and foster inclusive societies.

Neighbours I (2022-2024)

Launched in April 2022, the first Neighbours project was a proactive response to the alarming rise of antisemitism in Europe. HIAS Europe, in partnership with the European Union of Progressive Judaism and eight Jewish congregations spanning six countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands), spearheaded this EU-funded initiative. Together, we fostered engagement between Jewish communities and their Muslim and migrant neighbours.

Neighbours not only strives to combat antisemitism, but also actively fights against Islamophobia, both in Jewish environments and beyond. We believe the best way to do so is through mutual understanding, reduction of prejudice, and the promotion of local integration.

The project, funded by the European Union’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme (CERV), started in April 2022 and finished in the summer of 2024.

The Neighbours’ approach developed through two main pillars:

• Educational empowerment, bringing 3,500 youths into synagogues to confront antisemitic ideas, conspiracy myths, and other forms of offline and online hatred and prejudice. This part of the Neighbours project is based on an esteemed, award-winning curriculum originating from the Netherlands. For more information on how to implement this in your community you can download the Educational Manual for facilitators below.
• The building of interfaith coalitions in eight Jewish communities in Paris, Lyon, Unna, Munich, Amsterdam, Rome, Brussels, and Vienna. These coalitions connected Jewish and migrant communities, fostering social integration at the grassroots level. For a step-by-step resource based on the experiences of our eight partner communities, download our coalition-building guide below.