JEWISH HERITAGE ROUTE Contents
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PROVENCE JEWISH HERITAGE ROUTE CONTENTS HistORY 3 TOURISM 15 PROVENCE 16 1. MARSEILLE 17 2. TRETS 19 3. CAMP DES MILLES 20 4. AIX-EN-PROVENCE 21 5. TARASCON 23 6. SAINT-REMY-dE-PROVENCE 24 7. ARLES 25 8. COMTAT VENAISSIN 27 9. CARPENTRAS 28 10. AvIGNON 29 11. CAVAILLON 31 12. ISLE-suR-la-SORGUE 32 13. PERNEs-lEs-FONTAINES 33 PROVENCE JEWISH HERITAGE ROUTE 35 2 HISTORY The Jews They had been taken along as merchants certifying their liberty to practice according by the Hellenistic tribe of Phoacians, Greeks to their belief, to keep alive their bonds of have a heritage who had settled in Asia Minor, when they solidarity with Judea and be exempted in Provence founded Massilia (Marseille) in the 6th century from submission to foreign gods. Likewise, B.C. Likewise, when the Romans responded Emperor Augustus in 31 B.C. also granted dating more in 125 B.C. to their Greek allies’ request for beneficial conditions to the Jews in Massilia. than two millenia. aid in the war against the Salyens, they brought Jews with them to Massilia as The Romans, who called their settlement traders and slaves. In that pagan era, the Provinzia, valued the Jews’s usefulness in Jews in this territory enjoyed total religious the former Greek settlements , which retained freedom from the Romans. Free Jews a latent antagonism to Rome, and respected joined forces to buy the freedom of their the time-honored Jewish religion. Thus it breathen in bondage whenever possible - was not surprising that many Jews, who the first mitzvah (good deed) in Gaul. by the beginning of the 1st century A.D. had taken on an important role in the Roman empire, In 49 B.C., when Julius Ceasar representing 10% of the total population, took command in Gaul, made their way to Provinzia. Conceivably, HistORY he codified the rights and privileges since this was the period when many of the Hebrews Romans were seeking new religious solutions, 3 Return to contents page Return to contents page 4 HISTORY HISTORY monotheist ideals were on the verge of law, expanded significantly in Gaul. After Actually, there is archeological construction of the Petit Palace. 1st century breaking through and the many local dieties the destruction in 70 A.D. of the Second evidence in provincial museums relics depicted with menorahs were dug up were being judged as manifestations of one Temple by Titus, the leading families of the confirming a Jewish presence in Arles , as well as tombstones with Latin all-powerful God. House of David and the Tribe of Judah were which experts date and Hebrew inscriptions from this early th shipped off to southern Gaul which the Ro- from probably the 1st century B.C. period. A 4 century seal, bearing a menorah mans used as a dumping ground for politi- with only 5 branches and the inscription Attracted to the Jews’ high moral or the 1st century A.D. character and prizing cal undesirables. AVIN, an abbreviation of Avinonniensis, further symbolizes early Jewish settlement there. their teachings of the Torah, An oil lamp with a double 7-branch menorah An age-old legend insists that the Romans a number converted to Judaism (candelabra) from that era, was unearthed in put those captives - the “Jewish kings” - in In 632, the death of the prophet Orgon, close to Cavaillon. Legends recount but refused to be circumcized. They became three rudderless boats. Purportedly, the Jews growing wine with retired Roman Mohammed also had its effect on dedicated members of the congregation vessels landed in Arles, Lyon and Bordeaux, soldiers as colleagues in Avignon vineyards the Jews and their flight to Provence. and were called “the God-fearing”. A number of which lacks a port. Traditionally, the Jews in the 1st century. A sign, rue Vieille Juiverie, slaves and lower class Romans also found have long linked that legend with the Vehu remains as a silent teestimony to the street’s their way into the synagogue and requested Rahoum (God is gracious) prayer which Fearing a collusion between the Jews and inhabitants in this old Jewish quarter from conversion. So the Jewish population, without contains three texts supposedly composed the Moslems, who were incited to embark the 1st through the 13th centuries A.D. when proselytizing, which is forbidden by Jewish by three persons in those boats. on new conquests in the name of their late they were forced to move to make room for leader, the Roman emperor Héraclius ordered 5 Return to contents page Return to contents page 6 HISTORY HISTORY the conversion of all Jews and convinced Rabbi Benjamin of Tudela Medieval Medieval Provence - which in Hebrew texts Jews were obliged to live the Frank king Dagobert to follow the same a tireless traveller who went encompassed all of southern France extending in a carrière (from Provencal doctrine. Jews fled in great numbers to Provence far afield from Spain to Israel Provence was from the Alpes Maritimes to the Oriental carreira), a short, single street. which had remained a shelter from this in his sociological investigations experiencing Pyrenées - was experiencing the advent of a th fanaticism. In the mid-9 century period of of Jewish life, came in 1165. Jewish mysticism called Kabbalah. Grandson In these cramped quarters they always built darkness elsewhere, Provence continued a the advent of of a Lunel rabbi, Isaac the Blind, regarded as a synagogue, which also served as a school welcoming policy of asylum, tolerance and the jewish the “father of Kabbalah”, defined it as a label and meeting place. They could became tailors, comprehension for the exiles in its midst. The Spanish savant reported on the Jewish mysticism. for tradition based on a belief in the divinity dyers, bookbinders, brokers, traders, doctors and Facile contact with their Jewish bretheren in the communities in Arles (200) and Marseille of the Torah and that by studying its text surgeons. The IVth Lattran Council in 1215 had Middle and Far East and northern Europe led (300), which had a talmudic school. In his one can unlock the secrets of creation. assured their easy identification by imposing a to intellectual and commercial exchanges. journal describing his travels throughout the rouelle (wheel) for the men and a pécihoun, a Since the Jews contributed significantly to the Jewish world, he wrote that Rosh Hashanah This Provençal Kabbalism drew many adherents piece of fabric affixed to the women’s headwear. progress and enrichment of the communities, was celebrated during two days in Israel, and the Kabbalistic mystique spread quickly far Christian theorists claim the Jewish badge of they were accepted without resentment. In the custom having been brought there afield affecting thinking everywhere. discrimination was yellow to represent a piece a number of the Provençal cities, the Jews by Provencal Jews. Their influence was so of money, stigmatizing Jews as accomplices of organized study centers which promulga- great that all of Israel’s Jews accepted a Although there were Jews in Provence in Judas Iscarat, and being the most conspicuous ted the awakening and development of new second day to conform with the Jews of earlier times, a widespread presence was color to mark Jews as outcasts. Later, Jewish thinking and biblical understnding. the Diaspora. documented only from the Middle Ages. men also had to wear yellow hats. 7 Return to contents page Return to contents page 8 HISTORY HISTORY By the Middle Ages, there were Askenazis from central and eastern Europe Only Provence But after the death of the Good King René buildings, while often the cemeteries were some 80 to 100 thriving Jewish arrived in waves after the unending in 1480, when Provence was absorbed into levelled to build housing or to make parking lots. communities . But they enjoyed massacres. While their important contribution continued to the kingdom, anti-Jewish riots, sparked by freedom of worship, owned land to the movement of goods, ideas, progressive provide refuge the Carmelites and Franciscans, broke out In this papal enclave, and lived in their carrières, techniques and the cultural climate, their everywhere. Violence, looting and destruction seven popes and two anti-popes, key economic role in medieval society often for the Jews led to King Lous XII’s expulsion orders in restricted quarters. followed by their designated fostered envy and riots by their Christian until the late response to public demand. By the end of apostolic legates, reigned with compatriots. 15th century 1501, only converts remained. The last Jews, During centuries, Jews fleeing persecution to avoid forced conversion, fled to the safety absolute power over the Jews from along the Mediterranean basin as well as Jews were expelled in 1306 by the Phillip net offered by the popes in Avignon and the 1273 to 1790 - 517 years. from other desperate situations further away, the Fair from the southeastern Provinzia Comtat Venaissin (now the Vaucluse) or found a haven in Provence. Since wars and regions of the Languedoc, Herault and Gard emigrated to Turkey, Italy and North Africa. The more Jews expelled by succeeding persecutions continued to plague the soon after these regions were conquered Most remnants of Jewish life disappeared sovereigns, the more determined were the Spanish Jews, they came in regularly, long and became part of the French kingdom. in the ensuing years. Abandoned synagogues popes to assure their preservation to maintain before the Inquisition chased them all out in This was followed by numerous recalls and deteriorated, were knocked down or converted their involuntary testimony. Their miserable 1492. English Jews had flooded in after their expulsuions until 1395 when there was not for commerce and private dwellings.