Jewish heritage in Lithuania is a complex experience, which involves sites related to traditional Judaism, modern secular Jewish thought and shtetl culture specific to this region. Lithuanian Jewish heritage is part of a wider phenomenon known as Litvak culture, and the history of this phenomenon can be discovered through Litvak cuisine, Litvak relations with other ethnic groups in the region, and Litvak self-reflection.
Another significant part of the Route is presenting stories of famous Litvaks from all around Lithuania, whose ideas, art, inventions and so on make the image of Litvak culture prominent among other Jewish diaspora communities. JHL focuses on presenting authentic historical narratives about Jewish cultural heritage sites, bringing to light the involvement of the Jewish diaspora in the cultural and economical development of the region. The Jewish Heritage Route in Lithuania can lead to different directions based on the preferences of the visitor, whether it be learning about Vilnius as the Jerusalem of the North, rediscovering forgotten wooden synagogues in the old shtetls, or encountering industrial Jewish heritage in the biggest Lithuanian cities.
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Poland’s Chassidic Route
The Route of Jewish heritage in Poland makes the first attempt at a comprehensive approach towards the very complex issues of Jewish heritage in Poland. This viewpoint comes in a cross-section form reflecting on all of the most important phenomena related to what is broadly understood as Jewish Poland and its millennium long history dating back to High Middle Ages.
The Route combines hub cities, perceived as optimal connectors for telling the story of Polish Jewry with its all extraordinary nuances, located in several Polish regions across the country. Linking those 5 hub cities creates a closed trail in a form of a circle.
At the same time, these are the largest Polish metropolitan centers, and allow for a number of sub-routes of regional character to be established in each of the 5 sections.
Georgia Jewish Route
The Georgian Jews’ diaspora is ancient, specifically the history of Jews in Georgia counts 28 centuries. This means that Georgian-speaking Jewry is a community with the biggest number of surviving Jewish heritages in the whole world. The Jews were settled in different cities and villages around Georgia, such as: Oni, Gori, Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Mtskheta, etc. The 11th century Georgian historical sources say that the Jews first appeared and settled down in Kartli, after the destruction of the first temple by Nabukhodonosor (586 B.C) and their persecution from Jerusalem; as we know from history Jews were welcomed in the whole Georgia. Georgia is the only country in the world where Jews have not been persecuted on ethnic or religious grounds. Moreover, Georgian kings used Jews in diplomatic service and often sent them to negotiations. For example in the 12th century Jewish head trader Zanjan Zorababeli brought a husband for Georgia’s first female king Tamar.
Jewish Heritage in Spain
Sitting at a crossroads between Spain and France, Catalonia enjoys a rich historical heritage that bears a stronger mark than it may seem from the Jewish community that once lived there – and still does.
Jewish presence in Catalonia began over 1000 years ago, and at one point Catalan Jews were a sizeable percentage of the local population and became a beacon for worlwide Jewish culture and religion. However, a wave of violence at the end on the 14th century heralded the end of the community. It would be so for over 500 years, until at the end of the 19th century Jewish immigrants started to arrive to Catalonia. First from Turkey and central Europe, and eventually from all over.
Now it hosts a small but lively community and a rich but complex heritage that resists straightforward definitions.
Jewish Izmir
The Route of Jewish Heritage in Izmir is a project under development, but already offers many things to explore. Its presence dating back to the Hellenistic and Roman periods, the Jewish heritage of Izmir exhibits a unique character with its dominant Sephardic traditions of religion and worship, along with the architectural styles of the synagogues that existed in medieval Spain.
Out of many magnificent synagogues built in previous centuries in Izmir, only ten remain today within the Old Juderia and two in the New Juderia. Izmir is the only city to encounter the typical architectural features that survived collectively to the present day.
Some preserved, some in ruins, these synagogues together with the cortejos, the cemeteries, and an elevator tower, also constitute a living testimony to community’s life in Izmir, which was one of the most spectacular of its kind and had the most spiritual and cultural influence on all Jewish diaspora communities in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Jewish Ukraine
Ukraine’s Jewish community has a rich history: here were the first shtetls, built by Jews working for Polish aristocrats in the 18th century; it is here that Hasidism had its origins; and it is here that classic Yiddish-language literature began to develop. Moreover, Ukraine has one of the largest numbers of Jewish heritage sites of any European country: some 1,500 have been identified with the true number likely running into the thousands.
The development of the Ukrainian Route of Jewish Heritage will begin in Western Ukraine, highlighting the life of Jews in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, and Chernivsti Oblasts.
Florida Jewish Heritage Trail
The rich legacy of the Jewish community in Florida can be found in every region of the state. As a people, Jews have contributed dramatically to
Florida’s economy, culture and government and created institutions that allowed their heritage to flourish and their identity to strengthen. Although there is a perception that Jews did not arrive in Florida until after WWII, Jewish history in Florida actually can be traced to 1763 with the arrival of Alexander Solomons, Joseph de Pallacios, and Samuel Israel in Pensacola. In the 1800’s many Jewish families immigrated to Florida from northern states and foreign countries to settle both inland and along the coast. Today, South Florida is home to the second largest concentration of Jews in the world, and Florida has the nations third largest Jewish community.
Tel Aviv Dance Festival at the Suzanne Dellal Centre
The Tel Aviv Dance Festival at the Suzanne Dellal Centre in Tel Aviv is a vibrant celebration of contemporary dance that captivates audiences from around the world. Set against the backdrop of the city’s artistic charm, this annual festival showcases a diverse array of cutting-edge performances by both renowned and emerging choreographers, offering a fusion of creativity, innovation, and raw talent. Continue reading “Tel Aviv Dance Festival at the Suzanne Dellal Centre”
Jerusalem Food Truck Festival
The Jerusalem Food Truck Festival will be held for the sixth time, with top chefs from the leading restaurants in the city cooking in food trucks every evening in Ben Hinnom Valley Park. Among the trucks will be those of Angelica, Jacko Street, Luciana, Fringe, Rachel BaSdera, Hacanaanit, Iron Bar, Shmaltz,, Basher, Black Iron, Fiori, Jacko Sun, and more. In addition, there will be live music by leading bands and DJs.
Come and enjoy a great variety of music and food near the Old city where various Jerusalem chefs offer delicious food from within their trucks and at special prices.
Jewish Kolín
The history of the Jewish community in Kolín goes back to the 14th century. Due to its location and significance, Kolín is called “the Jerusalem on Elbe”. During this tour, you will explore the footsteps of the traditional Czech countryside Jewish community of Central Bohemia and its powerful history. You will visit a beautifully reconstructed synagogue from the 16th century, the medieval Jewish Quarter, and one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the country (The son of the famous Maharal of Prague is buried there). This hidden gem of Jewish heritage is only 45 minutes drive from Prague.A private tour of Jewish Kolín, offers unique oportunity to discover remains of vibrant historical Jewish life in traditional Czech village.
