ON-LINE CONVERSATIONS
include photos, maps and documents
in Spanish, English, French and Catalan

For availability and rates write to
info@urbancultours.com / tomasovd@gmail.com

Did you know that ....
-  Jews in Barcelona also spoke Catalan?
-  Barcelona was the center of Halachah
    in the 13c.?
-  A Rabbi developed the formula for the
    circle's area?
-  In 1401 there are no Jews in Barcelona?

Jews in Barcelona represented about 12% of the total population. They were professionals, artisans, merchants and were trusted by counts and kings with court affairs. Though few structures are left a vast archival documentation gives information about daily life, occupations, the neighborhoods and the cemetery which dates back to the mid 9c.

-  Flamenco dance shoes
-  Prêt a porter wedding wear
-  Milk ferments in the diet
-  New form of rock music
-  Photo-journalism during the Civil War
-  First department stores
-  Innovative graphic design

Jews started arriving in Spain in the early 1900s after having been expelled in 1492 by the Catholic Kings Isabel and Ferdinand.
They have been contributing, once again, to the development of this country, in all fields of science, industry and culture with their talents, experience and creativity.

-  oldest reference to Jewish presence is
    the existence of a cemetery, the 9c
-  it is located on top of Montjuïc hill
-  partially uncovered through the centuries
-  bones and tombstones found are kept in
    a municipal warehouse

Once Jews left, the King gave our cemetery to a church order. Tombstones were sold for construction and land was subdivided causing the site to lose its character and appearance.
In 2009, responding to a petition of the Jewish communities, the Catalan Government designated it as a Historical Landmark site. Until today, no signage indicates where it is.
I will explain about my actions to protect it and the fascinating results of my research.

ON-SITE GUIDED VISITS

I personally offer two different private or semi-private walks
in Spanish, English, French and Catalan

For availability and rates write to
info@urbancultours.com / tomasovd@gmail.com

PROGRAM A: Walk in the Old Jewish Quarter of Barcelona - 2 hs plus

The CALL, old Jewish quarter, is a small area within the Gothic quarter.
We meet in front of the Cathedral to start a circuit including these streets: Call, Sant Honorat,
Sant Domenec, Marlet, Fruita, Sant Ramon, Sant Felip Neri and Sant Sever, to see, among others:

• Museum Major Synagogue, two rooms in a small basement from the 16 century, opened by Miguel Iaffa in 2002. It is managed by Association Call Barcelona.
  
  NOTE the former synagogue no longer exists, this is a museum on or about the old location.
  It displays a personal collection of interesting artifacts from Central Europe.
  The most relevant local art pieces are the menorah by Ferran Aguiló (chueta artist from Mallorca) and the stained glass window by Maximo Iaffa.
  Closes Sat. all day, Sun. afternoon and major local or Jewish holidays.
  Available for private ceremonies.
• Visitors' Center, established by the City History Museum, has an interesting collection of objects, images and historic information.
  Opens Wed. morning, Saturday & Sunday all day including Jewish holidays.
  Closes on local holidays.
  
  En route, we will virtually pull information from the stones ... and will discuss how urban legends were started.
  To understand the relations of the Jewish community with the established powers, we walk to the area around the Cathedral and the Kings's palace, to see:
• Matsevot A few can be seen in the façade of the Lieutenant Palace as they were used for its construction.
• The emblem of the Inquisition. Institution established in 1480, with offices in a wing of the Royal Palace in Barcelona.

   

Museum Synagogue

in memory of Rav Ha Sardi, 1185 - 1255

re purposed
fragment of matsevah

The first part of this program is a visit to Montjuïc (Mount of Jews). It is today the city's central park, named after the Jewish cemetery since the 9th century. On the same hill there is a very moving Memorial to the victims of the Shoah. These stops offer a great opportunity to learn about Jewish life all along the 20 century.
Meeting at your hotel, transportation provided.

• Ancient Jewish cemetery on Montjuïc, declared a landmark site in 2009 at the petition of the local congregations and the civil society. After a long research, co-directed by Dominique Tomasov Blinder, you can now read about the Boundaries of Middle Ages Jewish Cemetery of Barcelona on Montjuïc

• SHOAH Memorial, in an old quarry on Montjuïc.
  Dedicated by the local Jewish institutions in 1995, 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are three memorials in Spain, and this is the most spectacular and moving.
  

The second part of the program is the Walk in the Jewish quarter described above.

Area old Jewish cemetery

Shoah Memorial
1995

Exchange experiences with the local Jewish community.

Participate in Shabbat services

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Chanukah, Tu Bishvat, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Sukot

Bring your children to participate in local activities and camps (on request)

Come to the International Jewish Film Festival organized every year

Visit Call Barcelona wines & books,in the Jewish quarter. Only place of its kind in Spain, a bookstore and cultural place with monthly events.

Meet Jewish artists, poets, musicians, photographers, designers

Take a cooking class and enjoy a Sephardic meal prepared by yourself
available to pre formed groups of 12 or more

Purim in Barcelona



Light of Forgotten Stars,
Anna Sper