Walking Archives | Page 3 of 9 | World Jewish Travel

Giovanna Bossi Rosenfeld

I am Giovanna Bossi Rosenfeld, a licensed Tour Guide specialized in Jewish Tours of Florence.

Since 2006 I have led a team of Guides, each carefully selected for knowledge, enthusiasm, and a commitment to sharing the history and culture of Jewish and Renaissance Florence.

History, art and Judaism are my three passions at the foundation of my training, which led me to become a qualified tour guide specializing in tours in Florence and Tuscany with a Jewish perspective.

I was born and raised in Florence, where I got my University degree in Architecture. After significant experience as an architect specializing in ancient building restoration, I decided to follow my passion for art, history and Jewish life, culture, and history. First, I served as internal guide for the Synagogue and Jewish Museum of Florence. Then, in 1998, I was licensed as a Tour Guide of Florence, officially certified by the Regione Toscana.

From the start I focused on customized Jewish itineraries of Florence and Tuscany. I have studied Hebrew, I regularly visit Israel, I am currently collaborating with the Jewish Community of Florence and also have very good relationships with all Jewish Communities throughout Tuscany, including Livorno, Pisa, Siena and Pitigliano.

Gadaşova Elnara

Elnara was born in the Khachmaz region and moved to Israel with her family while studying in 4’th grade. After a few years, she moved back to Azerbaijan. Here she started her career as a guide, developing her tours for students in northern regions. Later she moved to Red Settlement in Guba city, where she shares her passion and knowledge of Jewish Heritage with visitors.

Yusufova Regina

Regina was born and raised in Red Settlement, located in Guba. She works as a guide in the Red Settlement, where she shares her knowledge with the visitors.

Steven

Your guide, Steven, grew up in Southern California and inherited a profound appreciation of Italian art and history from his father who served in Italy during World War II. As nomadic as his biblical forefathers, he has resided in Europe at various intervals before definitively returning to Italy in 1989 to create a home and study art history at the Università degli Studi in Florence. He speaks, reads and writes in Italian and French and is passionate about his English Setter, wine, woodworking, and gardening. Increasingly, he finds himself amidst an alien culture and, like the Italian Jews themselves, often in a world very foreign. JEWISH ITALY is more than his repudiation of national confines, insatiable appetite to travel, a means to a livelihood, research or an education. They are his tours of the Jewish soul.

Jason is a native Italian from an old and distinguished family that includes scientists and writers well known in Italian society. An attorney admitted to the practice of law in the State of New York, he has always held an avid affinity for the Jewish history of Italy. He resided in Italy for many years and now lives in Sun City, Arizona with his wife, Marisa. He passes leisure time photographing the desert, continues to write mystery novels under the name of Joseph Steven, and is active in the area’s Jewish community. Over the years, he has persevered in making the Jewish-American community aware of the rich tapestry woven by Italian Jews and their worldwide contributions to the world of science and letters. He is fluent in Italian, Spanish, Catalan, and English and our contact within.

Laura

My name is Laura.
I live in Cerveteri, a small town in the countryside, 15 miles away from the north-west of Rome. I work in the tourism field since 1989.
I know Rome pretty well and all the public transport from Fiumicino airport or Civitavecchia harbour; I have the licence to assist at the harbour direct inside the cruise terminal.

I could escort you to the hotel, providing if necessary, a car for all your transfer or find accommodation. You won’t have anything to do from the day you’ll get in Rome:
I’ll take care of You

I can give you the following services:
assistance, transfer, accommodation, tours, shopping, reservation for the meals.

Micaela Pavoncello

Ciao! My name is Micaela Pavoncello and I am a proud member of the Jewish Community of Rome.
I was born in Rome to a Jewish Roman father (proud to be here since Caesar’s time!) and a Libyan Jewish Sephardic mother. I am married to Angelo and we have three sons, Gabriel, Nathan, and Isaac.

I have lived in Rome my entire life, except for one year I lived in Argentina and another year in Israel. I am in love with my city and that’s the reason why I decided to study Art History at Rome’s university. Traveling has given me the opportunity to meet other Jews, share my story with them, and compare my community with their and other communities. Throughout my time as a guide, while meeting people along my journey, I have come to realize how miraculous the existence of the Jewish Community of Rome really is.

I founded Jewish Roma Walking Tours in 2003 after completing my studies in Art History and a year of research at the central Archive of Rome where I was looking for documents about my family during the ghetto times. I also had a full time job at MACRO, Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, where I was responsible for the exhibitions department and I had the opportunity to meet artists, collectors, curators, and visitors from all over the world.

Taking people on tours of Rome, meeting travelers, and teaching them about the bimillenary existence of the Jews in this city made me understand that most people see Rome only as a city of Christianity.

However…

The Jewish Community of Rome’s history of resilience, culinary traditions, different minhag (musical-liturgical traditions), Jewish-Roman dialect, and continuous presence in the same place, make us the most ancient citizens of Rome and unique contributors to the fabric of the Eternal City. We have been witnesses of the grandeur of the Roman Empire, and to its fall, the beginning of Christianity, the Barbarians, the Inquisition, The Popes, the ghettos, and the final Emancipation. We went through World War Two and the Shoah and still we thrive today.

Marco Misano

Family is a central value for Jews and Italians alike—doubly so for Italian Jews! So let me tell you who I am by telling you a little bit about my family.

My ancestors came to Rome from Spain, over five hundred years ago. My grandmother ran a licensed souvenir stand in the Vatican (a traditionally Jewish profession!), which she passed on to my father, and my father to me.

You could say that tourism and the city of Rome are in my DNA!

A few years ago, I decided to take this family tradition to another level. Driven by my passion for the city of Rome, its landmarks, art and history, I decided to become a tour guide. I studied hard, taking courses in art history and archaeology, passed the gruelling regional exams—obtaining certification as a licensed tour guide—and immediately began working with some of the largest tour operators in Rome. Now, as an independent guide, I am able to offer my intimate knowledge of the city and its Jewish history (including Talmudic and Midrashic sources) in particular, directly to you. As a professionally trained tour guide and a graduate of the Rome Yeshiva who has deep roots in this city and its ancient Jewish community, I will show you Rome from a truly unique perspective.

And now for the rest of the mishpacha—or famiglia, as we say in Rome: I am married to a fellow Roman Jew, of Ashkenazi heritage (a “mixed” marriage ☺☺), and have two wonderful children, of whom I am immensely proud.

Régine Baumgärtner

I offer guided city tours in English, Spanish, French or German.
The guided city tours can be undertaken by foot, by bike, with your own bus or by tramway. Some of the tours offered include: Traces of Jewish heritage in Strasbourg with the Mikvah; Figures: Goethe, A. Schweitzer, Gutenberg, famous women; City Center: Maison Kammerzell, Petite-France, etc; Cathedral: astronomical clock, crypt, stained glass windows, etc.; and Architecture: Gothic, Renaissance, French building from 18th Century, Art Nouveau, Art Deco

Joshua Shapurkar

Joshua Shapurkar is a native of Mumbai and a member of the Bene Israel community. He has been a professional guide for more than 30 years. Full of knowledge and warmth, he has a special way of leading a group and sharing information. His passion for his country and his community shines through. Joshua’s attention to detail and love for his Jewish heritage bring to life the history of the Jewish people of India. During his career as a guide he has guided and managed important delegations for JFNA, AJC and AJDC.

Haanna Shapurkar

A member of the local Jewish Community of Mumbai, Hanna Shapurkar has been a licensed tour Guide for more than twenty years. Engaging and Knowledgeable and delightful to be with, Hanna is full of insights into the Jewish History of Mumbai and her sense of humor makes the tour fun.

Guide Tag: Walking