When it comes to Jewish history, few countries, if any, have as troubled a past as Germany. From the Rhineland massacres of 1096 through the almost incomprehensible systematic slaughter of the Holocaust in the 20th century, anti-Semitic violence was once a regular occurrence in Germany for the better part of a thousand years. But Germany also enjoyed many periods where Jews … [Read more...]
Archives for September 2021
MEDIEVAL SYNAGOGUES OF SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
Throughout the Middle Ages, synagogues were constructed by Jewish communities all over Europe. While very few survive from this period, there are several noteworthy clusters of historic medieval synagogues that are still standing throughout the continent. One such cluster can be found in the Iberian Peninsula. Many synagogues were built in Spain and Portugal during the … [Read more...]
HOMES AND OTHER SITES OF GREAT JEWISH INTELLECTUALS OF THE EARLY MODERN AGE
Sandwiched between the persecutions and pogroms of the Middle Ages and the terrifying years of the Holocaust, there was a golden age of Jewish culture that flourished in Europe. From France to Russia, and especially in Central Europe, some of the greatest Jewish thinkers of all time emerged during this period. The era produced brilliant Jewish philosophers, phenomenally … [Read more...]
ANCIENT SYNAGOGUE RUINS
The ‘synagogue’ as an institution is very ancient. It is unknown exactly when the earliest synagogues were built, but in all likelihood it was during the Hasmonean dynasty, which ruled over Judea from 140 BCE to 37 BCE. Synagogue construction became more widespread after the destruction of the Great Temple of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Despite this, not a single … [Read more...]
