The American Sephardi Federation joined with Congregation Edmond J. Safra of Manhattan and Ramaz School/Kehillath Jeshurun in organizing an exceptional nine-day heritage tour of Spain – The Roots of Sefarad. Led by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie and Rabbi Haskel Lookstein, the group of 51 Sephardim and Ashkenazim together explored the famous and infamous sites which exemplify the Jewish experience in Spain under Muslim and Christian rule.
Upon arrival in Madrid, the delegation was met by the Honorable Fernando Villalonga, Consul General of Spain in NY, who had arranged a welcome for us by the Mayor of Madrid, Mr. Alberto Ruiz Gallardón. That evening we were treated to a private tour of the Prado Museum! Later in the week, the leaders of the Jewish community in Madrid hosted a dinner for us and together we watched Spain play the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Consul General Villalonga traveled with us to Segovia, where we were received by city officials; and to Toledo, where Mayor Emiliano Garcia Page greeted us warmly and gave each of us a beautiful print rendering of the El Transito Synagogue. The edifice is an excellent example of 14th century Spanish Jewish architecture which was declared a national monument in 1977, and which today forms part of the Sephardi Museum that explores the Jewish culture of Medieval Toledo.
Each day brought new sights – both historic and contemporary. Our tour of the Jewish quarter of Barcelona included a visit to the old synagogue, now a small private museum, and we were generously hosted by the Jewish community there for Shabbat services and several lovely meals in their community center. After a tour of the City of Girona, ASF’s good friends, Ms. Assumpcio Hosta, Director General of the Red de Juderias, and Silvia Planas, Director of the Nachmanides Institute and the Jewish Museum, welcomed us in the Museum courtyard.
Representatives of Casa Safarad-Israel in Madrid who participated in ASF’s program on The Jews of Spain joined us on several occasions. This governmental group’s mission is to further the study of the legacy of Sephardic culture as an integral, living part of Spanish culture; foster a better understanding of Jewish culture; and promote the development of the ties of friendship and cooperation between Spanish and Israeli societies.
Our two final destinations were Cordoba (when Spain won the World Cup) and Granada, which included a reading of the Edict of Expulsion by Rabbi Lookstein in the Throne Room of the Alhambra! It was a great ending to a memorable trip. Next year, the ASF is planning to organize a heritage trip to Morocco.
