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The Jewish cemetery of Oguz
The Oguz Old Jewish Cemetery has not lasted to the present time day. The early twentieth-century shifts, the coup, and the repression of the clerics and religious servants, followed by the war, had to have repercussions on the cemetery’s destruction. In addition, the Oguz Jewish cemetery is situated on a deciduous forest mountainside. The old graves were washed away by rains and floods, and tree roots ended up moving the tombstones, hiding them beneath the ruins. As result, the old graves are barely visible.
Rahimov Karim, through his father’s will, facilitated the dissection and construction of a new cemetery in 1930. The territory of the cemeteries now has trails and gazebos for visitors to rest. The memorial to the Great Patriotic War participants
The Jewish Story of Madrid, Spain
As the capital and cultural center of Spain, Madrid is one of the most visited cities in Europe. Immerse yourself into Spanish heritage with streets invigorated by rhythmic Flamenco music, cultural venues at the Prado and Reina Sofia showcasing world-class European art, and a deep Jewish history hidden in its timeless neighborhoods.
Madrid is interwoven in the fabric tale of Spanish Jews, or Sephardic Jews, that were part of a mass expulsion from the country during the 15th century. The city awaits you to discover its rich history preserving the city’s Jewish legacy and modern attractions giving hope to a returning Jewish diaspora once excluded.
Jewish Culture and History in Spain
Traces of Jews in Spain on record date back as early as the 3rd century, with a Latin burial inscription found in the Spanish village of Adra—references to Safarad, Hebrew for Spain, can be found in earlier texts in the Book of Obadiah, the specific location can’t be concluded. However, it was not until the 11th century that documents Jews in Madrid.
Madrid wasn’t always the vibrant and energetic capital it is today—a hub more heavily focused on Toledo, less than an hour’s drive southwest of the capital. Like many Sephardic communities, those living in Madrid thrived in the Judería, or Jewish quarter. It was a four-block district near present-day Teatro Real, survived by period Jewish homes. It was a self-sustained community with businesses owned by and serving the community.
The decline of Jews in Madrid came in 1391 when angry mobs destroyed much of the community during countrywide riots leaving 50,000 Jewish casualties who refused to convert to Christianity during the reconquest. By 1481, only approximately 200 Jews remained in Madrid.
The Spanish Inquisition of 1478 arranged for a mass conversion to Catholicism and led to the Alhambra Decree, signed in 1492, effectively expelling Jews from Spain. As a result, up to 100,000 Sephardic Jews were displaced, leading to a global Jewish diaspora in Cuba and around the Mediterranean.
With the expulsion happening soon after the riots, Madrid’s Jewish population would not get a major uplift until the 20th century.
A Jewish Community Rebirthed
Today, Madrid is a center for Spain’s efforts to make the country welcoming to Sephardic Jews and their descendants. Legislation continues to pass in favor of the Jewish community, such as the Religious Freedom Law that allowed the building of the Beth Yaacov Synagogue in 1968; also, to the Sephardic Jewish diaspora being granted Spanish citizenship for proving a descendant line. In addition, the upcoming Jewish Museum of Spain will exhibit more than 3,000 years of history and successful contributions to society from the past and present.
These efforts have blossomed Madrid into the most populous city in Spain for Jews—home to more than 15,000 Jews.
Experience Jewish Heritage in Madrid at These Attractions
Uncover remains of the Jewish Quarter in Lavapiés
Trace the steps of Medieval Spain through the narrow streets of Lavapiés, Madrid’s trendiest neighborhoods for culture, dining, entertainment, and nightlight. You’ll discover colorful graffiti, restaurants from different cultures, and plenty of traces of the Jewish heritage that once thrived here.
People watch in the Plaza de Lavapiés while reflecting on this site that once featured a fountain local Jews used to wash their feet. Wander down Calle de la Fe, formerly Calle Sinagoga, for the local synagogue no longer standing. Enjoy nightlife with a live theatrical performance at Teatro del Barrio.
Visit the Beth Yaacov Synagogue
Sephardic tunes ring throughout the Beth Yaacov Synagogue as if a ‘welcome home’ siren to the Jewish diaspora. It’s the first official synagogue built in 1968 since Sephardic Jews were expelled in the 15th century. The synagogue is open to practicing Jews to participate in prayer time and Shabbat meals.
Discover Jewish Art at The Prado Museum
Step into the UNESCO Golden Triangle of Art to discover the masterpieces of the Prado Museum that hold an abundance of Jewish history and secrets. For more than two centuries, the Prado Museum has built its collection of more than 20,000 artworks. Private tours lead you through the galleries to see the famous Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, a Spanish Jewish painter known for his royal portraits, scenes of Sephardic tales, and artistic renditions of Biblical stories.
Pay Tribute to Jewish Lives in the British cemetery of Madrid
Cemeteries hold countless stories forever buried beneath the Earth. Browsing the tombstones in the British Cemetery of Madrid allude to early Jewish communities that returned to Madrid during the mid-1800s. Tour the grounds to see gravesites from the Bauer family, a prominent Jewish family, amongst 30 other gravesites.
The Bauer Family was headed by Ignacio Bauer, a Jewish Banker operating as an agent with the Rothschild Bank in the 1850s. In addition to the Bauer family tombs, you can also visit the Bauer Palace, the former residence.
Celebrate the Holidays with Janucá en la Calle
One of the best times for Jewish travel to Madrid is during the holiday season. Gather in the Plaza de la Villa with crowds of up to 50,000 people for the Janucá en the Calle, a festive Hanukkah celebration. The holidays kick off with this festival of lights, featuring musical performances, reading of Hebrew scriptures, lighting the menorah, and more for the entire family!
Ready to experience the Jewish side of Madrid? Engaging cultural tours like the Nora Kapan Sephardic tour explore Jewish history across Spain with a brief stop in Madrid, or the Jewish Heritage tour Madrid that takes you to all of Madrid’s most iconic sites. You’ll enjoy authentic Spanish and Jewish cuisines with dining experiences at Cafe Madrid, La Escudilla, and other Jewish-inspired restaurants. And cozy accommodations that put you within steps of connecting your Jewish heritage to the Spanish Capital.
The Jewish Story of Venice, Italy
The Jewish Story of Venice, Italy
It’s a scene most of us picture when we think of Venice: rows of shiny black gondolas, gently bobbing on the water. Gondoliers in striped jerseys loll against weathered dock posts, drawing lazily on cigarettes as they wait for their next fare. Behind them, across the busy waterway, rises the unmistakable dome of Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute. Turn around and you’ll be facing the magnificent Doge’s Palace on the fringes of iconic St Mark’s Square. There are few places as beautiful in all of Italy.
Stroll a while, ducking down narrow alleyways and crossing tiny bridges, loosely following the sweeping curves of the Grand Canal. Before long you will reach the northernmost of the six historic sestieri of Venice. This is Cannaregio, the focal point of the city’s Jewish community. Packed full of historic landmarks yet off the beaten track, it’s one of the most rewarding parts of the city to explore.
Jewish life in Venice: turbulent beginnings
Blessed with such a distinctive culture, it feels like Italy has been around forever. But in fact, it didn’t exist as a nation before 1871. Instead, the country as we know it was a collection of city states and independent republics. One of the most influential was Venice, “La Serenissima”. A maritime republic that had earned a substantial fortune through trade, it thrived for over 1100 years.
Business needs funds and in Venice, Jews were welcomed as money lenders. However, anyone looking for permanent resident status in those early years could forget it. In 1385, though, all that changed. Conflict between the Venetians and their neighbors in Chioggia brought about a need for even more money. It forced a change in Venetian policy. Nevertheless, although Jews could now settle in the city, the largely Christian population neither trusted nor assimilated them. For more than a century, things jogged along, but it was an uneasy relationship.
The birth of the ghetto
Things came to a head in 1516, when a decree from Doge Leonardo Loredan established the Venice ghetto in Cannaregio. The name was no accident. The authorities cleared metal workshops to make way for housing; in Venetian dialect geto means foundry. Over time, geto became ghetto and now indicates a place where a minority group settles.
Under Venetian law at that time, Jews could run a pawn shop, lend money, trade textiles and practise medicine. But to do so, they had to live within the ghetto. Hastily erected walls blocked off parts of the Ghetto Nuovo that opened onto the canal. Locked gates confined Jews overnight and they even had to foot the bill for the security guards they never asked for.
At its peak, the ghetto was home to around 5000 Jews. They came from Italy, Germany, France, Spain and the Ottoman Empire. Each group built its own synagogue and maintained a separate existence. Everything changed in 1797 with the arrival of Napoleon. When he marched into Venice, he tore down the gates and abolished the ghetto restrictions. Those who could afford it departed for more affluent and desirable parts of the city, but returned each Sabbath to worship at the ghetto synagogues.
Post holocaust
By the outbreak of World War II, about 1200 Jews lived in the Venice ghetto. The Nazis rounded up and deported more than 246 of them to Auschwitz. Fewer than ten survived. Yet, the figure could have been much higher if it hadn’t been for the sacrifice of Giuseppe Jona, then leader of the Jewish community.
The time, the Nazis demanded that he hand over a list of all the Jews in the ghetto. In an act of selfless bravery, he destroyed every written record he had that identified Venetian Jews, and committed suicide. A plaque in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo commemorates his sacrifice. Post-war, Venice has experienced a rapidly declining population. Today, around 450 Jews reside in the city. Thanks to high rents, only a privileged few can afford to live in the ghetto itself.
Exploring the Jewish quarter of Cannaregio
Broadly speaking, Jewish Cannaregio comprises the Ghetto Nuovo, the Ghetto Vecchio and the Ghetto Novissimo. A quirk of history, the Ghetto Nuovo was actually settled by Jews before the Ghetto Vecchio. The Ghetto Vecchio and Ghetto Novissimo were incorporated as the Jewish population grew.
A good place to start exploring is in Campo di Ghetto Nuovo. A bronze memorial to the horrors of the Holocaust is set into the brick wall of the square. Sculptor Arbit Blatas created “The Last Train” to depict how Jews were mistreated. The names of the victims are carved into wooden planks. As you stroll through Cannaregio, look out for stumbling blocks. These tiny brass plaques form a memorial by German artist Gunter Demnig. Find them along Campo Ghetto Vecchio and Campiella Santa Maria Nova.
The Jewish Museum hosts guided tours of the area’s synagogues. The central European Ashkenazim built the oldest, the Scuola Grande Tedesca, in 1528-29. They were also responsible for the Scuola Canton which dates from 1532. The third synagogue in the Ghetto Nuovo is the Scuola Italiana, erected in 1575, which served the Italian Jews.
In the Ghetto Vecchio, you’ll find two Sephardic synagogues. Prosperous Levantine Jews built their synagogue in 1541. Its interior boasts an intricately carved wooden ceiling and bimah (pulpit). Close by in the Calle del Forno, a bread oven was used for making Matzah. Nearby is Scuola Grande Spagnola, the Spanish synagogue.
Renaissance man: Rabbi Yitzchak Abarbanel
Rabbi Yitzchak Abarbanel was born into a well-connected family that advised royals and rulers in Portugal and Spain. Philanthropist at heart, he worked tirelessly on behalf of the Jewish community. However, in 1492, a decree forced Jews to convert to Christianity or leave Spain. He chose the latter option and sailed for Italy.
Eventually he wound up in Venice and joined the government. As a respected statesman of the Venetian Republic, he led negotiations for a spice trade agreement between Italy and Portugal. Later, he dedicated his life to study. By the time he died in 1509, he had secured a place for himself in Venetian history.
Next time you find yourself in Venice, why not take a walk in his footsteps and explore Cannaregio for yourself?
Month of Jewish Culture in Osijek
The 2nd issue of the Month of Jewish Culture in Osijek is organised by the Jewish Community of Osijek during September 2022, starting on Sept. 4 with the opening ceremony, the ‘Morpurgo family’ and ‘EXPLORE(R)’ exhibitions in Osijek Culture Centre (https://jewisheritage.org/event/morpurgo-family; https://jewisheritage.org/event/explorer-narratives-of-the-past-exhibition-of-student-artworks), followed by the Klezmer music concert “Kontra-kvartet” (https://jewisheritage.org/event/klezmer-music-concert-kontra-kvartet).At the same day the Israeli documentary ‘Trip across Israel’ in Urania cinema is presented as a tool for getting to know Israel through innovative VR content, a daily event from Sept. 4 till 24 (the closing day of the festival; every day from 5 till 9 p.m.), organised in cooperation with the Embassy of Israel in Croatia (https://jewisheritage.org/event/trip-across-israel). The Month of Jewish Culture in Osijek includes numerous and various cultural, educational, artistic and social programmes (https://jewisheritage.org/edjc/2022-renewal).
Muju cemetery
Although Jews began
to leave Muju in the 1860s, no one remained in the village after the unrest of
1918, when they were threatened by Armenians and fled to different parts of the
country. During that time, the village’s Jewish cemetery was also destroyed.
Only a few graves from as recently as the 1910s have survived. It has now been
restored, and the land has been cleared and fenced in. On a separate small stone
podium, small headstones are displayed. When people didn’t have enough funds,
they erected small tombstones and replaced them with larger ones when they
could.
Arch Bridge
Of the seven bridges that existed in the Guba region between the 17th and 19th centuries, this is the only one that still remains. This longest bridge was built in 1894 by Alexander III to strengthen Russia’s military presence in the Caucasus, replacing a wooden bridge built over the Gudialchay river in 1851. Originally, a 19-span bridge was planned. However, due to landslides during construction, lower numbers were chosen.
The bridge has 14 spans, a
total length of 275 meters, and an 8-meter width. Because of its multi-span
design, the bridge can withstand powerful massive flooding and mudflows that
raise the river’s water level. This is Azerbaijan’s only bridge of this type
from the nineteenth century. The bridge is now only used by pedestrians and
offers a spectacular view of Red Village. It provides easy access to Red
Village from Nizami Park, the city’s oldest park. The bridge has been
designated as an architectural landmark by the state.
Many young Mountain Jews have
relocated to cities to further their education and learn trades. The burnt
bricks used to build the old bridge saw many changes in Red Village, from the
heyday of religious life in the early twentieth century, when the village had
13 synagogues, to the arrival of Soviet power and subsequent religious
repression, to soldiers being escorted to the front in World War II, many of
whom never returned. It has come to represent the settlement and the close ties
between two cultures: the Muslims of Guba and the Jews of Red Village.
Great Patriotic War monument
Monuments to soldiers who died
fighting for peace and freedom have been designed and built throughout
Azerbaijan. Red Village is home to one of them. On June 22, 1941, Azerbaijan,
as part of the Soviet Union, joined the Great Patriotic War to defeat fascism.
The Nazi command was particularly interested in Baku’s oil during the war and
attempted to seize control of it during the battles for the Caucasus.
Memorial Board of Albert Agarunov
Albert Agarunov, who
was born in Baku’s Amirjan settlement, joined the Azerbaijani army as a
volunteer during the First Karabakh War in 1991. He was able to eliminate 9
tanks and 7 armored personnel carriers in only a few months as a tank commander
in the 777th Special Battalion. However, on May 8, 1992, while climbing out of
his tank to separate the bodies of fallen comrades, he was shot by a sniper. On
the battlefield, he was killed. Albert Agarunov was posthumously honored as a
“National Hero of Azerbaijan” in 1992 for his bravery and heroism in
defending Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and civilian population.
Both the mullah and the rabbi
prayed at Albert Agarunov’s memorial service. He was laid to rest in The Alley
of Martyrs, located in Baku. Albert had numerous opportunities to leave
Azerbaijan, but he chose to stay and fight for his country. His valiant life
continues to be a symbol of Azerbaijan’s centuries-long Jewish-Muslim unity and
brotherhood.
During
the Second Karabakh War in 2020, when Azerbaijan liberated its lands after 30
years of occupation, Albert remained a hero and source of inspiration for all
of Azerbaijan.
Gisory Cemetery and grave of Rabbi Gershon
Gisori is one of the main neighborhoods of the Red Settlement. Gisori is one of several neighborhoods that make up Red Village. Former residents of this neighborhood are laid to rest in Gisori Cemetery, one of Red Village’s oldest cemeteries, located on the hill’s steep slope. The earliest gravestones in this cemetery were erected between 1807 and 1814. They are approximately 80cm tall and made of fieldstone, with inscriptions chiseled into the stone slab. Other early 19th-century tombstones are plain rectangular stela. Simple ornaments in the form of an open rosette first appeared on stones in the mid-nineteenth century, and those from the second half of the 19th century are adorned with leaves and David’s stars. The inscriptions are framed by a pointed arch. A pointed arch frames the inscriptions.
