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THE JEWS OF GEORGIA
Their History and Culture
June 27- July 6, 2010

    Led by Professors Yom Tov Assis and Shalom Sabar
  The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Photographer: Yom Tov Assis	Photographer:Yom Tov Assis

Photographer: Yom Tov Assis	Photographer:Yom Tov Assis

According to a tradition of Georgian Jews they are descendants of the Ten Tribes exiled by the Assyrians in the 8th century BCE. The first Jews, however, must have come in the early centuries of the CE when Judeo-Christians converted the local people to Christianity. The Jews of Georgia came from Byzantium, Persia and Armenia. After its conquest by the Arabs, the county remained Christian. A Jewish sect that rejected some major Jewish laws and practices emerged in the 9th century. At that time the Jews of Georgia had as their neighbors the Khazars. In the course of time Georgian Jews became serfs after loosing their property. The Russian occupation of Georgia in the second half of the 19th century opened a new chapter in the history of Georgian Jewry. They were now in contact with the Jews of Russia. From then on Georgian Jewry was under the impact of the developments and processes that prevailed in the territories dominated by Russia. Georgian Jews took a leading role in the struggle for the right to immigrate to Israel. The seminar will cover the fascinating story of a very special Jewish community.

 

Sunday June 27	: Late transfer to the hotel in Tbilisi, a city filled with history and found in a dramatic setting on either side of the Mtkvari River. TBILISI
Monday June 28	Orientation and Lecture: The Emergence of Georgia and the Origins of its Jews, Y. Assis Lecture: The Jews and Early Christianity in Georgia, T. Mgloblishvili Tour Mtskheta, a World Cultural Heritage site with some of the finest architectural monuments in Georgia, Djvari and Sveticxoveli. The church is from the 10th century. Visit Samtavro and continue to Surami to visit the synagogue and the ruins of the fortress. Boxed vegetarian lunch. Lecture: The Special Marriage Contracts of Georgian Jews and their Curious Relationships with the Ketubbot of Iraq, Iran and Kurdistan, S. Sabar Continue to Sachkhere and Kutaisi, the former capital of western Georgia. KUTAISI
Tuesday June 29	Visit the synagogues in Kutaisi: The Small Synagogue inaugurated in 1815, the Great Tue Synagogue opened in 1886 and the third synagogue so-called the Synagogue of Above located in a different neighborhood. The visit at the Jewish cemetery in Kutaisi is followed by visits of the historical sites, Bagrati and Gelati. Travel to Vani, one of the most ancient cities of Georgia where we tour the archeological excavations. Boxed vegetarian lunch. Lecture on the bus: The Historical Development of Georgian Jewry, Y. Assis Travel to Kulashi where we visit the Museum of History and Ethnography of the Jews and Georgians. We then proceed to the complex of three abandoned synagogues, one of which is on the verge of collapse. At its peak the Jewish community was 2,700 members strong. Continue to Batumi where we visit the synagogue. KUTAISI
Wednesday June 30	Lecture on the bus: Jews and non-Jews in Georgia, Y. Assis Travel through the very tough mountainous road to Oni via Nikortsminda to see the 11th century beautiful Georgian Orthodox Church with frescoes from the 17th century. Visit the synagogue built in 1895 as the Hebrew inscription at the entrance indicates. At its peak the community was 3,500 member strong, today 30 Jews live there. Boxed vegetarian lunch. Continue to Shovi, a popular mountain resort famous for its forests. KUTAISI
Thursday July 1	Lecture: Tavsili - The Oral Judeo-Georgian Text of the Bible, R. Enoch Lecture: Ceremonial and Folk Art for the Synagogue and Jewish Home in Georgia, S. Sabar Travel to famous cave city of Vardzia where the first caves date from the 9th century and its peak was in the 12th century. Visit the beautiful Borjomi Reserve, noted for its diverse landscapes. Continue to Akhaltsikhe, a town dominated by a castle dated to the 12th century as well as its rabati (old town). Travel to Bakuriani. Regular buffet dinner in the hotel (with vegetarian options) is included in the price. BAKURIANI
Friday July 2	Lecture on the bus: Between the Jews of Georgia and the Jewish World, Y. Assis Visit synagogues and other sites in Kareli and proceed to Gori where we visit Stalin's birthplace and then the synagogue that caters nowadays for 90-100 families. Continue to Tbilisi, the beating heart of the Caucasus. Boxed vegetarian lunch. Services either in Georgian or Ashkenazi Synagogue, recently refurbished. Kosher Shabbat dinner TBILISI
Saturday July 3	Services in the Georgian or Ashkenazi Synagogues. Kosher Shabbat lunch. Lecture: The Cultural and Religious Life of Georgian Jewry, Y. Assis Lecture: Art and Folklore in the Life Cycle - From Childbirth to Bar Mitzvah, S.Sabar TBILISI
Sunday July 4	Lecture: Jewish Community and Society in Georgia, Y.Assis Lecture: The Jews in the Economy of Georgia, E. Enoch City sightseeing in Tbilisi. Visit the National Museum where the main rooms cover Georgia's history. If the National Museum is still under restoration, visit the Arts Musuem. Evening: Optional theater or opera. TBILISI
Monday July 5	Lecture: The Architecture of Synagogues and Cemeteries of Georgia, S. Bostanashvili Lecture: Art and Folklore in the Life Cycle - Wedding and Burial Ceremonies, S. Sabar Travel to Alaverdi Cathedral and Monastery and continue to Gremi with its 16th century architectural monument. Visit the Telavi fortress set in the vineyard strewn Alazani Valley. Travel to Ikalto or Shuamta. Continue to the Tsinandali Park. Boxed vegetarian lunch. Lecture: Relations between Israel and Georgia, Israeli Ambassador to Georgia, Dr. Gerberg TBILISI
Tuesday July 6	Lecture: The Immigration of Georgian Jews to Israel, R. Enoch Lecture: Jewish Life under the Russian and Soviet Regimes, Y. Assis Exhibition of Hebrew Manuscripts. Transfer to airport for evening flight.

PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Lecturers:
Prof. Yom Tov Assis, Dept. of the History of the Jewish People
                                      The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Prof. Shota Bostanashvili, International Academy of Architecture
                                      Tblisi
Mr. Eli Enoch, Director of the Bank of Georgia
                                      Tblisi
Prof. Reuven Enoch, Dept. of Israel's Heritage, University Center of Ariel
                                      Ariel
Dr. Itzhak Gerberg, Ambassador of Israel in Georgia
                                     
Dr. Tamila Mgaloblishvili, St. Andrew Georgian University
                                      Tblisi
Prof. Shalom Sabar, Depts. of Jewish and Comparative Folklore and Art
                                      The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Organizers of the Seminar:
Prof. Yom Tov Assis and Debbie Zuberi

CONDITIONS

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