Back to Jewish Historical Seminars

THE JEWS OF PROVENCE
A Stronghold of Jewish Culture, Mysticism and Philosophy
January 17-24, 2011

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

Photographer: Debbie Zuberi	Photographer:Debbie Zuberi

Photographer: Debbie Zuberi	Photographer:Debbie Zuberi

The beginnings of Provençal Jewry go back to antiquity when Jews settled in the first province conquered by Rome outside Italy. The Jews of Provence belonged to the communities that were in the sphere of influence of the Center in Israel. They maintained their original Jewish culture between the two major centers of Jewish life in the Middle Ages: Sepharad and Ashkenaz. While Provence was the birth place of Kabbalah, it also developed into a center of the Serphardi type of Jewish culture, combining Jewish studies, Hebrew language and Jewish philosophy with sciences and medicine. In Provence the different trends met and clashed and a series of controversies tore apart the Jews. The seminar will examine the characteristics of a unique Jewish culture that came to an abrupt end and for centuries was almost totally unknown in the Jewish world. The concluding session will refer to the Popes' Jews who remained until the French Revolution in an inland enclosure as the only Jewish remnants in Western Europe after a long series of expulsions.

 

Monday Jan 17	Arrival to Marseille on El Al #321 arriving at 09:50. Transfer to Montpellier, the capital of the Languedoc- Roussillon region and well known for its university. 17:30-19:00 Orientation and Lecture: Medieval Provence and the Beginnings of Provençal Jewry, Y. Assis MONTPELLIER
Tuesday Jan 18	08:30-10:30 Lecture: Jewish Life in Medieval Provence, Y. Assis Lecture: The Image of the Jews and Judaism in Christian Art of the Middle Ages, S. Sabar Tour Montpellier with its old city and stone arches. Visit the Jewish Quarter, medieval mikve and the Faculty of Medicine. Afternoon visit of St. Guilhem Le Desert, one of the prettiest villages in Languedoc. MONTPELLIER
Wednesday Jan 19	08:00-10:00 Lecture: Jewish Mysticism in Provence, Y. Assis Lecture: Hebrew Manuscript Illumination in Medieval Provence and its Relationship to the Oriental and Sephardic Schools, S. Sabar Travel to Narbonne to visit the Jewish Quarter and continue to Béziers, the wine capital of Lanquedoc, to tour the Jewish Quarter. Travel to Pézenas, situated on the River Peyne and well-known for its artisans. MONTPELLIER
Thursday Jan 20	08:00-10:00 Lecture: Sephardi Culture in Provence, Y. Assis Lecture: The Beginnings of Hebrew Printing and Printed Books of Provence S. Sabar Travel to Nîmes which has the greatest wealth of ancient buildings in France and is known for its important textile industry. Visit the synagogue. Continue to the library to view old books and manuscripts. Optional box lunch. Continue to Arles, made famous by painters Van Gogh and Gauguin. Visit the Roman amphitheater, Les Arènes and the Arletan Museum. Proceed to Avignon, known as the European city of culture with its beautiful architecture and artistic heritage. Travel to the picturesque village of Les-Baux-de-Provence. AVIGNON
Friday Jan 21	Early morning visit to the Archives in Avignon. Tour the Palais des Papes, built during the 14th century. Visit the oldest synagogue in France that is still in use and situated in the charming town of Carpentras. Shabbat services in the synagogue. Kosher dinner in the Jewish Community Center AVIGNON
Saturday Jan 22	Shabbat services in the synagogue. Kosher lunch in the Jewish Community Center. 17:30-18:30 Lecture: Mystics, Philosophers and Halakhists in Controversies, Y.Assis 18:45-19:45 Lecture: Jewish Ceremonies and Rituals in Provence from the Middle Ages to the Baroque Era, S. Sabar AVIGNON
Sunday Jan 23	08:00-10:00 Lecture: The Last Phase of Jewish Art in Provence: Hebrew Manuscripts of the XVIIth and XVIIIth Centuries, S.Sabar Lecture: The End of Provençal Jewry or the Survival of the Popes' Jews, Y. Assis Continue to Aix-en-Provence, one of France's most charming cities to visit the 19th century synagogue which is now a Protestant church. Continue to Cavaillon where we visit its old synagogue and the Jewish Museum Depart for Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a compact medieval town built on the islands of five branches of the Sorgue River to visit the Jewish Quarter. Specially prepared farewell dinner. Return to Avignon. AVIGNON
Monday Jan 24	Travel to the Marseille airport for the departure flight. (El Al #322 departing at 10:55).

PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Lecturers:
Prof. Yom Tov Assis, Dept. of the History of the Jewish People
                                      The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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

REGISTRATION FORM

BIBLIOGRAPHY