SUMMER 2004 IN THE CITIES OF THE NETWORK

All types of activities planned for this coming summer.

The cities that form part of `Red de Juderías de España´ have all types of activities planned for this coming summer.
- In Córdoba, the celebration of the Year of Maimonid continues and from 29 June to 3 July the third edition of the International Sephardic Music Festival will take place. The concerts will take place in the Botanical Garden of Córdoba at 10 pm. They will be preceded by conferences on Sephardic culture.
- In Girona, the second seminary of the Spanish Association of Hebrew and Jewish Studies is going to take place on 3 and 4 of June. It is entitled, `Gerunda judaica-Girona jueva-Gerona judía´. The exhibition will be inaugurated on the same dates. It is called, `The secret of the books : Hidden documents of the Jews of Girona´. Later on, it will be possible to see it in the Museum of the History of the Jews (No. 8, La Força street) until September. It will then travel to other cities that are part of the network. A series of conferences will finish this coming 10 June with a talk by Uriel Macías on The pleasures of the table : festive cooking in the Sephardic Jewry. It will be held in the Nahmanides Institute for Jewish Studies at 8 pm. This city is already preparing the second course on `Cultural Tourism and Jewish Heritage´ for November of 2004. We will keep you up to date on this matter. In July, Girona initiates the customary summer programming : afternoons of stories and legends every Wednesday in July and August at 6:30 pm for children between 5 and 11 years. The concerts of `Nights of music in the Call´ will take place on Thursdays in August at 10 pm. This year´s new event in the Museum of the History of the Jews is the guided tours of the galleries of the museum. They will take place, daily, from 15 June until 15 September. The tours can be in Catalan, Spanish, English, French or Hebrew according to the schedules available at http://www.ajgirona.org/call/eng/visita.php.
- The village of Besalú, an associated city, will hold the conferences entitled : `Monotheism, nexus of union of the three religions´ (5 June); `Being born, living and dieing in a medieval Jewish community´ (19 June) and `Remembrance of Sarah : Jewish women and talks about our Middle Ages´ (26 June). All these conferences will be at 7 pm. On 12 and 13 June, a Festival of Jewish Cinema will be held. Besalú also offers guided tours at night in July and August on Wednesdays at 11 pm.
- Ribadavia offers diverse guided tours : `Ribadavia con los sentidos´ and `Ribadavia y el vino´. They are given in July, August and September every day at 12 noon. In July, the Sephardic Culture Days are celebrated. There will be conferences on the Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula. The `Mostra´ (Showing) of International Theatre of Ribadavia (17 to 24 July) has a section on Sephardic theatre. Theatre groups from the world over act in the streets and squares of this historical setting and in the Auditorium of the Castle. On 28 August, Ribadavia will organize their famous `Festa da Historia´, in which moments of medieval life in the villa are reflected, such as a Jewish wedding or the theatre of the Malsín.
- Segovia is also preparing to put into operation the `Centro Didáctico de la Alhama Hebrea´, which will be housed in three of the rooms of the homes of Andrés Laguna and Abraham Senneor in the old Jewish district. We would like to emphasize the upcoming inauguration of the `Puerta de San Andrés´ (Door of San Andrés), which is one of the doors of the wall of Segovia. It is located in the Jewish district and will be a small centre of interpretation of the Wall and a point from which it will be possible to contemplate several streets of the Jewish district and the cemetery.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Córdoba, 17 April 2004

Last Saturday, 17 April, the ordinary general assembly of `Red de Juderías de España-Caminos de Sefarad´, was held in Córdoba. The President of the Network and Mayoress of Córdoba, Mrs Rosa Aguilar, in the name of all the cities represented in the Assembly, made a special call for international dialogue for peace in the Middle East as the only path towards understanding among different peoples. She stated that this is the spirit of this network and reminded us that our cities were places and models of co-existence and shone with dialogue and tolerance for centuries.
The assembly approved, among other matters :
1. To back the petition by the city of León to request that the UNESCO declare b>the windows of the cathedral to be a Heritage of Humanity.
2. To support the initiative and to join the Festival of Jewish Cinema that will be held in Barcelona between 30 April and 8 May.
3. To participate in a relevant way in the Universal Forum of Cultures 2004, on 14, 15, and 16 July by express invitation of the city of Barcelona.
4. To support in specific ways the program of activities surrounding the 800th anniversary of the death of Maimonid, programmed by the city of Córdoba, the native city of the great Wiseman.
In addition, the management report, the regulations for internal matters and the economic balance corresponding to 2003 were approved.

NEW PUBLICATIONS

Red de Juderías will publish a 2004 calendar and a cookery book

The most recent publications of Red de Juderías de España are the 2004 calendar and the cookery book by Uriel Macías Kapón.
This year´s calendar has as its main subject the writings from the illustrious medieval thinker Moses ben Maimon, known as Maimonides. It is being published in memoriam of the 800th anniversary of his death. As every year, the calendar gathers the Jewish and Christian festivals of the Spanish cities that are part of Red de Juderías de España. The book can be acquired at specialised bookstores or at the secretary´s office of Red de Juderías.
The publishing of La cocina Judía (Jewish Cooking) by Uriel Macías, with the special collaboration of Ana Bensadón, fills an obvious void in the contemporary Spanish bibliography. It gives a realistic approach to Jewish cooking within its cultural context. It is based on the dietary laws of Judaism and Sephardic family customs. This work can only be acquired in specialised bookstores.

CULTURAL ITINERARIES PROGRAMME OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Cultural tourism in Europe

In 1960, a working group of the Council of Europe presented a report entitled, Collective awareness of European cultural highlights and their incorporation into the leisure culture. In this regard, Recommendation 987 (28 January 1984) of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Order of the corresponding Committee of Ministers invite all member countries to support the launching of those European cultural itineraries that highlight the European cultural community.
From the beginning of the program, the Council of Europe has constantly insisted on the need to become aware of a common heritage, the interchange of people and ideas, inter-religious dialogue, the protection of minorities and the protection of the landscape so as to develop and to consolidate cultural cooperation for the purpose of greater democratic security.
Therefore, in 1998, the Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution (98) 4 on the Cultural Itineraries of the Council of Europe and their corresponding guidelines. Particularly mentioned are: such itineraries that lend themselves to European projects of long-term cooperation in the areas of investigation, of patrimonial assessment, of culture and the practice of the arts, of cultural and educative interchanges for young people, cultural tourism in Europe and permanent cultural development.
European cultural itinerary is understood to mean a route that includes one or several countries or regions, and that is organized around subjects whose historical, artistic or social interest is seen as European, and is based on either the geographic layout of the itinerary or is based on its content and its meaningfulness.
It is within this framework that the Red de Juderías de España is designing, together with our European partners ECJC and B´nai B´rit, a cultural itinerary that makes it possible to visit the Jewish legacy in Europe from medieval to contemporary times. This past 18 December 2003, the European Institute of Cultural Itineraries informed us of the acceptance of our itinerary by the Directorial Committee of that body. We at Red de Juderías de España are, therefore, initiating a new stage of consolidation and approval by the Council of Europe.
For more information see: www.jewisheritage.org and www.culture-routes.lu

COLLABORATORS

Picture of the activity carried out in Jaén in the European Day 2003:

- In Castelló d´Empúries: the guided tour to the Call will start at 5 pm from the Tourist Office. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 972 15 62 33, also to the e-mail: ot.centrehistoric@castellodempuries.net.

- In Jaén: the Association Iuventa organises four different activities in collaboration with the `Junta de Andalucía´: in the Jaén Provincial Museum there will be the speech `Archaeological Excavations in the Jewish Quarter of Jaén´, at 11:30 am. In the same museum, at 12:30 pm, they will proceed to include the Jewish medieval pointer (yad) recently founded in excavation works at the Jewish Quarter, in the permanent exhibition. Thanks also to the collaboration of the Municipality of Jaén and `Jaén en Movimiento-Tourism of Art and Theatre´, there will be a guided tour at the Jewish Quarter, that will start from the Magdalena Square at 8:30 pm. During all the day, at the Exhibition Hall CentrA, the photographic exhibition `Las Fuentes´ will be displayed, with the collaboration of `Junta de Andalucía´ and the Israel Embassy.

- In Madrid: the Jewish Community of Madrid organises a guided tour to the synagogue, at 6:30 pm. This will be followed by the lecture `Logros y desafíos de la Comunidad Judía de Madrid en el siglo XXI´ by Mr. Jacobo Israel Garzón and Mr. Uriel Macías. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 91 591 31 31.

- In Palma (Mallorca): `Arca, Llegat Jueu´ organises an exhibition of books of Jewish subject with a Sephardic gastronomic tasting, from the 6:30 pm on Pau Street, no 5. Next, the documentary film El último sefardí by M. A. Nieto will be performed. These activities have the collaboration of the Town Council of Palma.

- In Sevilla: at 11 am, the Association Sevilla Sefarad-Legado Sefardí organises a guided tour at the Jewish Quarter (San Bartolomé and Santa Cruz Quarter). Inscription is required at: lsefardi@legadosefardi.org.

- In Valencia: there will be two guided tours to the medieval Jewish Quarter, organised by the Conservative/Masorti Synagogue `La Javurá´. The meeting point will be at Pinazo Square, at 9:30 am and at 9:30 pm.

More Information: www.jewisheritage.org

COLLABORATORS

Picture of the activity carried out in Jaén in the European Day 2003:

- In Castelló d´Empúries: the guided tour to the Call will start at 5 pm from the Tourist Office. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 972 15 62 33, also to the e-mail: ot.centrehistoric@castellodempuries.net.

- In Jaén: the Association Iuventa organises four different activities in collaboration with the `Junta de Andalucía´: in the Jaén Provincial Museum there will be the speech `Archaeological Excavations in the Jewish Quarter of Jaén´, at 11:30 am. In the same museum, at 12:30 pm, they will proceed to include the Jewish medieval pointer (yad) recently founded in excavation works at the Jewish Quarter, in the permanent exhibition. Thanks also to the collaboration of the Municipality of Jaén and `Jaén en Movimiento-Tourism of Art and Theatre´, there will be a guided tour at the Jewish Quarter, that will start from the Magdalena Square at 8:30 pm. During all the day, at the Exhibition Hall CentrA, the photographic exhibition `Las Fuentes´ will be displayed, with the collaboration of `Junta de Andalucía´ and the Israel Embassy.

- In Madrid: the Jewish Community of Madrid organises a guided tour to the synagogue, at 6:30 pm. This will be followed by the lecture `Logros y desafíos de la Comunidad Judía de Madrid en el siglo XXI´ by Mr. Jacobo Israel Garzón and Mr. Uriel Macías. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 91 591 31 31.

- In Palma (Mallorca): `Arca, Llegat Jueu´ organises an exhibition of books of Jewish subject with a Sephardic gastronomic tasting, from the 6:30 pm on Pau Street, no 5. Next, the documentary film El último sefardí by M. A. Nieto will be performed. These activities have the collaboration of the Town Council of Palma.

- In Sevilla: at 11 am, the Association Sevilla Sefarad-Legado Sefardí organises a guided tour at the Jewish Quarter (San Bartolomé and Santa Cruz Quarter). Inscription is required at: lsefardi@legadosefardi.org.

- In Valencia: there will be two guided tours to the medieval Jewish Quarter, organised by the Conservative/Masorti Synagogue `La Javurá´. The meeting point will be at Pinazo Square, at 9:30 am and at 9:30 pm.

More Information: www.jewisheritage.org

ASSOCIATED CITIES

Detail from Dora Szampanier´s exhibition (Calahorra):

- In Besalú: There will be guided tours to the Miqwah and to the Synagogue archaeological excavation. Tours will be at the Tourist Office, where the inscription is required. The same weekend `Besalú Medieval´ Festival will take place in the town, so there will be a unique fee of 4 EUR. per person, providing an access to all the activities inside the medieval area.

- In Calahorra: the exhibition `Synagogues in glory and in ruins´ by Dora Szampainer, will be inaugurated at 8:30 pm September 3rd, in the Calahorra Municipal Museum. During the event, there will be the presentation of the book El legado Judío en Calahorra, by Mrs. Amor García Antolín and Mrs. Ana Jesús Mateos Gil. On Sunday, the Municipality organises guided tours to the Calahorra Jewish Quarter at noon and at 5 pm, with the collaboration of the Municipal Board of Volunteers. Departure from Rasillo de San Francisco (opposite to the church).

- In Estella-Lizarra: at noon, the guided tour named `La vida cotidiana en Elgacena´ will depart from the Former City Hall.

- Monforte de Lemos organises four guided tours to the monumental and Jewish area, during all the day.

- Plasencia will offer a lecture in the Jewish Quarter at noon.

- In Tarazona: it will also be possible to take part in two guided tours to the Jewish Quarter, at noon and at 7 pm, starting at Arcedianos Square. From 11 am to 1 pm and from 6 pm till 8 pm, the Multimedia Centre Moshe de Portella will celebrate a Day of Open Doors.

More Information: www.jewisheritage.org

EUROPEAN DAY OF JEWISH CULTURE IN THE CITIES OF THE NETWORK

Free activities. Registration is not required unless the opposite is specified.

- In Barcelona: from 1 to 2 pm, a conference in charge of Alfred Bosch is offered in the Chronicles Hall of the Town Council. To finish, a snack and drinks will be served in the Gothic Gallery.
On the other hand, the Jewish Community Atid of Catalonia organises guided tours to the Barcelona Jewish Quarter from 10 am till noon. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 93 417 37 04.
The Israelite Community of Barcelona and Major Synagogue of Barcelona organise the lecture `Shabat Shalom. Una Isla en el tiempo´ that will be held in the Marlet Street Synagogue from 10 am till 2 pm.
The National Museum of Art of Catalonia (Palau Nacional, Parque de Montjuïc) have a Day of Opened Doors during the morning. There, from 11.45 am till 12.30 pm, there will be the concert `Cançons de l´exili: un pont cap al Passat´, by Ellen Gould Ventura.
In the frame of the Day, but on Saturday September 4th, from 10 pm till 12 pm, at Sant Felip Neri Square, the Association of the International Festival of Jewish Cinema of Barcelona will perform short movies about the Jewish culture, exhibited in different earlier editions of this festival.

- In Cáceres: the Tourism Council organises several activities during the morning: from 10 am to 2 pm Day of Open Doors at the Isla Palace (Concepción Square), former synagogue of the `Judería Nueva´ Quarter; the guided tour to the Old Jewish Quarter at 11 am, leaving from the main door of the City Hall (Mayor Square); at 12:30 pm a concert by Mr. Alonso Torres Ventosa (tenor) will be performed in San Antonio church (former Synagogue) and the Olive grove of the Jewish Quarter; and from 11:30 till 2 pm, there will be live music and theatre in the streets of the Old Jewish Quarter.

- In Córdoba: during all the morning there will be Open Doors at the Synagogue of Córdoba, by courtesy of the County Council of Culture of the `Junta de Andalucía´.
The Tourism Council of the Municipality of Córdoba, with the collaboration of the County Council of Culture, organises guided tours to the Jewish Quarter and Synagogue. Only to the participants at these tours, at 11 am, the European Route of the Jewish Heritage will be presented in Caballerizas Reales. From there, it will start the guided tour at 11:3 pm. During the itinerary, at noon, `The Piece of the Month´ of the Archaeological Museum, the Hebrew gravestone of Lucena, will be presented. At 1 pm, back to Caballerizas Reales, and only to the participants at the guided tours, there will be distributed the commemorating parchment of the 800 anniversary of the death of Maimonid (1204-2004), accompanied by a taste of Sephardic specialities and kosher wine. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 957 200522, Tourism section (1, Caballerizas Reales).
After the Day of Open Doors September 5th, the activities related to the Jewish world will follow, since the World Congress Maimonid and his time, will be held from September 6th to 9th in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Córdoba, organised by the State Society for Cultural Commemorations, with the collaboration of the Culture Department of the Municipality of Córdoba. Inscription is required at fax +34 91 310 38 56, also at e-mail ediaz@secc.es. More information at www.secc.es.
At last, September 18th, the Tourism Council organises the usual Sephardic evening to celebrate the New Jewish Year, in the gardens of the Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos at 9 pm. The price is 30 EUR. Inscription is required at Information offices of the Tourism Consortium and Hotels of Cordoba.

- In Girona: there will be three opportunities to do the guided tour `Call indoors´, at 10 am, at 11 am and at noon in the Museum of History of the Jews (8, Força street). Inscription is required at the telephone +34 972 21 67 61. From 11 am till 3 pm, in the Bonastruc ça Porta Centre, visitors will enjoy the virtual space of the network. Simultaneously, a bazaar will be displayed with Sephardic produces, such as snacks, books and handicrafts, with the support of La Tienda de Sefarad and Editorial Certeza. At 1 pm Radiosefarad.com will broadcast a life programme in the Centre. All these activities are organised by the Municipal Board Call de Girona.

- In Hervás: the guided tour to the Jewish Quarter will depart from the Tourist Office at 11 am. At noon, a Concert for the Peace will be performed at the Roger Lecourtier Garden.

- In León: the activities of the day will start on the previous days, in order to give more opportunities to citizens to enjoy the cultural programme: the guided tour to the archaeological excavations of the Puente Castro Jewish quarter (with the collaboration of University of León) will be at 11 am, on September 3rd, 4th and 5th. These same days there will be a guided tour to the Jewish quarter with the support of the association ALEFH, leaving from San Martín Square at noon and at 6 pm. At 9 pm the concerts of David Broza (Friday), Abend Music (Saturday) and Ira & Klezmers (Sunday) will be performed in the Patio of the Guzmanes Palace. The Artemis bookstore will house one exhibition of books about ancient and present Jewish culture from September 1st to 4th (commercial timetable). Friday September 3rd at 8 pm, there will be the lecture `La figura de Moisés de León y su obra´, in the Hall of the León City Council (Alfonso V Street). At same time and place, Saturday September 4th, there will be another lecture entitled `Enrique de Castilla y su relación con los judíos´. At last, the Vivaldi Restaurant will prepare a taste of Sephardic cooking, from September 1st to 5th. All these activities are organised by the Heritage Council of the Municipality of León.

- In Oviedo: from 11 am and until 2:30 pm, the Casina-Synagogue (Fontán Square), will celebrate a Day of Open Doors, organised by the Municipality with the collaboration of the Israelite Community of the Principado de Asturias. Inscription is required at Municipal Tourist Office.

- In Ribadavia: there will be four guided tours to the Jewish Quarter, at 11 am (English language), at noon (German), at 1 pm (Spanish) and at 6 pm (Galician). The meeting point will be at the Tourist Office (7, Maior Square). Also, from 10:30 am till 3 pm, and from 4:30 pm till 8 pm, the Jewish Information Centre of Galicia will celebrate a Day of Open Doors, placed in the so-called `Pazo de los Condes´, a baroque building of the 18th c., that belonged to the Sarmiento family.

- In Segovia: some activities start the eve of September 5th: the guided tours to the Jewish Quarter on Saturday September 4th will start at 7:45 pm and at 8 pm from the Tourist Office (Mayor Sq.). Inscription is required at the telephone +34 921 460 334. This Saturday September 4th at 9 pm, at the Corpus Christi Church (former Major Synagogue), Algarabía group will perform a concert of Sephardic music. On Sunday September 5th the guided tours to the Jewish Quarter will start at 10 am, 10:30 am, 11 am, 11:30 am and at 4 pm, 4:30 pm, 5 pm and 5:30 pm, also from the Tourist Office (inscription is also required at the telephone +34 921 460 334). At 8 pm, in the Patio of Andrés Laguna House, there will be a concert of Sephardic music by Sirma group. All these activities are organised by the Municipality in collaboration with the Tourist Office of the `Junta de Castilla y León´ (for the guided tours) and with the collaboration of the Foundation Don Juan de Borbon (for both concerts).

- In Toledo: the Municipal Board of Tourism organises a live itinerary, including a performance of a Jewish familiar dinner, all around the Jewish Quarter at 11 am, at noon, 6 pm and 7:30 pm, with a taste of sweets and drinks. They have the support of the County Association of Toledo Hotel Business Agents. Also, there will be possible to do this itinerary on September 3rd and 4th, at 7 pm and at 9 pm. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 925 254 030.
The former Toledo synagogues will also participate with a Day of Open Doors: El Tránsito Synagogue, from 10 am to 9 pm, and Santa María La Blanca Synagogue, from 10 am to 6 pm, thanks to the precious collaboration of the Sephardic Museum and of the Archbishopric of Toledo.
The Toledo Municipal Board of Tourism organises different guided tours to the Jewish Quarter: in one hand, with the collaboration of the Regional Association of Professional Guides of Castilla-La Mancha, it can be seen the Jewish Quarter of Toledo and their synagogues at noon and at 4:30 pm. In another hand, with the collaboration of Enterprises `Visitas Guiadas de Toledo´, there will be guided tours to the Jewish Quarter, at 11 am; at noon; 4:30 pm; 8 pm. The regular fee is 12 EUR. At noon, a cultural gymkhana will walk round the Toledo Jewish Quarter (including El Tránsito Synagogue and Santa María la Blanca Synagogue). For the tours and gymkhana, inscription is required at the telephone +34 925 254 030.
As a Closure of the Day, Toledo Municipal Board of Tourism organises a concert of Sephardic music at 7:30 pm in Santa María La Blanca Synagogue (with the collaboration of the Archbishopric of Toledo).

- In Tortosa: the activity of the day will be the concert of Sephardic Music in charge of the Aljama group, that will be performed at 6 pm at the Immaculada Square (Remolins). More information at the Municipal Institute for Cultural and Tourist Activities (IMACT), telephone +34 977 51 01 44.

- In Tudela: the activities will begin with a concert at 11:30 am at the Tourist Office. From there, the guided tour will depart at noon. Some live performances in the street will be seen from 12:45 pm and, at last, at 1:30 pm, participants will enjoy a taste of Sephardic produces.

More Information: www.jewisheritage.org

RADIOSEFARAD.COM

One hour of daily programming on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

RADIOSEFARAD.COM is an initiative of the Federation of Israelite Communities of Spain, sponsored by all types of private donors. It broadcasts one hour of daily programming on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Its contents are aimed at the Spanish and Spanish-speaking audience for the basic purpose of disclosing the ethical, cultural and scientific values of Judaism through its history and present development. Under the direction of Solly Wolodarsky, RADIOSEFARAD.COM initiated its broadcasts on 3 February 2004 and in that month alone it received 11,000 visits.

More Information: http://www.radiosefarad.com

MURCIA AND THE THREE CULTURES

The city of Murcia holds the fifth edition of its international festival.

The 5th International Festival Murcia Three Cultures, organised by the Cultural and Festive Council of the City council of Murcia, takes place in May and June of 2004. This year the city wishes to become, once again, the crossroads of cultures and an example of respect and tolerance. The spring festival is eminently musical, but also includes :
- Exhibitions of drawings and photographs in `Los Molinos del Río´ and the City Museum.
- The cinema series, from 6 to 8 May, in the `Centro Cultural Puertas de Castilla´.
- A theatre series, from 10 to 12 May, in the `Teatro Romea´.
- The presentation of the book, Los árboles de las Tres Culturas (The Trees of the Three Cultures), by Clara Janés, Mercedes Hidalgo and Pablo Alonso, in the City Museum.
- The series of conferences Cuatro perspectivas en el V centenario de Isabel la Católica (Four perspectives on the 5th centennial of Isabel the Catholic).
- The course, Murcia Tres Culturas. Historia, lengua y literatura. Pasado, presente y futuro (Murcia, Three Cultures. History, language and Literature. Past, present and future), organised by the International University of the Sea (University of Murcia) from 10 to 21 May. For more information : www.um.es/unimar

More Information: oficinafestivales@ayto-murcia.es; Tel. 968 225 995; www.fiestasdemurcia.com

MEDIEVAL JEWISH POINTER IN THE OLD PART OF JAÉN

Archaeological excavation in Jaén.

A pointer from the Middle Ages, used for reading the Torah, was discovered in an archaeological excavation of houses from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in the historical district of the capital, Jaén. The City council of Jaén reported that the finding took place in the street called `Rostro y Santa Cruz´, in the old Jewish district, by Vicente Barba and Mercedes Navarro. The two are archaeologists working with the Study of Archaeology `Arq 13´, that at the time of the discovery were carrying out work for Urban Planning. The object has been given to the Provincial Museum.
Also, Arq 13 has discovered the remains of two stately houses from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The pointer was found in one of them. For Vicente Barba, this object and its context demonstrate that an important Jewish community inhabited Jaén. The piece is made of wrought bone and is decorated with seven inserted circles. The pointer (yad) is an object used when reading the Torah to avoid directly touching the sacred text with the hands.

THE NETWORK IN THE FORUM BARCELONA 2004

`Red de Juderías´ takes part on 14, 15 and 16 July 2004

`Red de Juderías´ takes part in the dialogue entitled : `Tourism, Cultural diversity and sustainable development´ on 14, 15 and 16 July 2004.
`Tourism and peace are inseparable from the moment at which tourism is the main mechanism of knowledge and intercultural dialogue´.
This dialogue will be a meeting place for all those interested in the inter-relationship between tourism, culture and sustainable development. It will be a time dedicated to open debate and the free discussion of ideas and points of view. How responsible tourism can be a vehicle for conservation of cultural and natural diversity will be looked at and the implementation of the principles of sustainable development will be a focal point.
It will take place at the Barcelona International Convention Center (Plaza Llevant, located on the corner of Avda. Diagonal and Rambla Prim, 08019 Barcelona. Tel. 902 24 2004).

More Information: http://www.barcelona2004.org/esp/eventos/dialogos/ficha.cfm?IdEvento=170

SIXTH EDITION OF THE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL IN BARCELONA

From 30 April until 8 May in Barcelona.

Created six years ago, the Festival has become consolidated as an important cultural event in Barcelona. It includes openings of new films in the city and in Spain. At the same time, there are parallel cultural activities that include attendance by personalities of the international cultural panorama. This edition is entitled Identity, Diversity in order to show the meaning of the cultural, national and intellectual diversity within the Jewish identity. It is an act associated with the Forum 2004 and receives the support of the City Council of Barcelona, the Jewish communities of the city and the French Institute.
There is a retrospective of the Benny Brunner´s work. Documentaries by the Israeli-Dutch documentary maker are exhibited, such as `It is not a dream´, `The Children of Sophie and Abraham´ and his last work on the security wall between Israeli and Palestinian territory.
This edition is organised in thematic days :
- Argentine view : the film `Asesino´ (Nurit Kedar, Argentina-Israel, 2003) will be presented and the director of the documentary and the president and vice-president of the Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo will attend.
- Reflections about the conflict : the documentaries `Persona Non Grata´ (Oliver Stone, France, 2003) and `Arna´s Children´ (Israel, 2003) will be shown. Maria Espinosa, president of the NGO Encuentros will attend. The organisation is dedicated to teaching peace in times of war. It uses camps in which Spanish, Palestinian and Israeli young people, and educators specialising in conflictive situations live together.
- The colours of Judaism : The documentary, `Blacks and Jews´ (the U.S.A., 2003) and `Black Israel´ will be shown (France, 2003). The North American writer Rebecca Walker will attend.
- Experimental window : presents `Resisting Paradise´ (the U.S.A., 2003); `My Life Part Two´ (Angelika Levi, Germany, 2003); and `Zonen´ (Esaias Baitel, Sweden, 2003).
- For the memory of the Shoah : with documentaries such as `The Last Witness´ (Poland, 2003); or `The 7th Million´ (Benny Brunner, Israel-Holland, 2001).
- Laughs with a tone : the evidences of the specific humour for the Jewish world in `Schmelvis Searching for the King´s Jewish Roots´ (USA, 2002).
- The other : The importance of tradition and changes in history with `Galot´ (Israel/UK, 2003); or `L´attentat´ (France/Israel, 1998). This thematic day will include a round table discussion on the present day resurgence of Judeophobia.
- Barukh Aba : always feel welcome with `Bedouin Sand´ (Israel, 1997) and `James´ Journey to Jerusalem´ (Israel, 2003).

More Information: http://www.fcjbarcelona.org/

FAM TRIPS IN SPAIN

Familiarisation visits for foreign journalists.

Following the line of the collaboration of Red de Juderías de España with Turespaña through the Spanish Offices of Tourism (OETs) abroad, we are awaiting the visit of journalists from Mexico, Canada and the New York and Boston areas, between April and May. The familiarisation visits are called Fam Trips. The OETs organize the trips and the network of Spanish Jewish sites collaborates by designing the route and facilitating guides and information. This trip is a valuable tool for disseminating information, in the countries from which the journalists come, about Spanish patrimony in general and also about Red de Juderías.

CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF MAIMONIDES IN CORDOBA

8th Centenary of the death of Moses ben Maimon:

The events that are being prepared in the city of Cordoba, for 2004, commemorate the 8th Centenary of the death of Moses ben Maimon, the great Maimonides. To begin with, the Ciclo de Música de las Tres Culturas (Cycle of Music of the Three Cultures) will be held from 7th to 28th March 2004. In addition, Artefactum, a group performing ancient music, will give a concert scheduled for 25th April at 8:30 pm.
The City Council of Cordoba and the State Society of Cultural Commemorations are organizing for September the congress entitled: Maimonides and his time (Cordoba-Lucena, from 6th to 9th September 2004) coordinated by professor Carlos del Valle, from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Higher Research Council). About thirty speakers are going to take part in the event, the subject of which revolves around Moses Maimonides in all of his facets and his era. Andalusian Hebrew philology will also be gone into for the special relevance of the Hebrew literary Renaissance in al-Andalus. The technical coordinator of the congress is Mrs. Elena Diaz (Ediaz@secc.es).

NEWS FROM OTHER CITIES

FotoHebraica 2003

This past December 2003, the Madrid Jewish Community and Hebraica Madrid organised the photography contest FotoHebraica 2003. The subject was: Judaism on the two slopes of the mountain range from Ávila to Guadalajara (Ávila, Madrid, and Guadalajara). The sites suggested by the organisation are currently and were historically sites of Jewish heritage. Afterwards, the competing photographs were exhibited in the halls of the MJC from 14 to 21 December.

More Information: cjmsecretaria@terra.es; info@hebraica.com

RESULTS OF THE EUROPEAN DAY OF JEWISH CULTURE

Balance of the activities of 7 September

The 4th European Day of Jewish Culture was simultaneously held this past 7 September in 23 European countries. Already in its fourth edition, the motto was Judaism and the Arts.
Over 123,000 people participated in this event; 6,000 of them did so in Spain. Some 200 cities all over Europe organised more than 500 activities, such as guided tours of the most emblematic places of Jewish historical heritage (ritual synagogues, cemeteries, baths), exhibitions, conferences, concerts, etc. We would like to highlight the common activity that was carried out in all of the cities of Red de Juderías de España and the talks offered by delegated speakers in each city.
The countries that participated on this occasion were: Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
The next Day of Jewish Culture will be held on Sunday 5 September 2004. The complete programme of activities can be consulted in the near future on the Web page: www.jewisheritage.org.

COLLABORATIONS

Picture of the activity carried out in Jaén in the European Day 2003:

- In Castelló d´Empúries: the guided tour to the Call will start at 5 pm from the Tourist Office. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 972 15 62 33, also to the e-mail: ot.centrehistoric@castellodempuries.net.

- In Jaén: the Association Iuventa organises four different activities in collaboration with the `Junta de Andalucía´: in the Jaén Provincial Museum there will be the speech `Archaeological Excavations in the Jewish Quarter of Jaén´, at 11:30 am. In the same museum, at 12:30 pm, they will proceed to include the Jewish medieval pointer (yad) recently founded in excavation works at the Jewish Quarter, in the permanent exhibition. Thanks also to the collaboration of the Municipality of Jaén and `Jaén en Movimiento-Tourism of Art and Theatre´, there will be a guided tour at the Jewish Quarter, that will start from the Magdalena Square at 8:30 pm. During all the day, at the Exhibition Hall CentrA, the photographic exhibition `Las Fuentes´ will be displayed, with the collaboration of `Junta de Andalucía´ and the Israel Embassy.

- In Madrid: the Jewish Community of Madrid organises a guided tour to the synagogue, at 6:30 pm. This will be followed by the lecture `Logros y desafíos de la Comunidad Judía de Madrid en el siglo XXI´ by Mr. Jacobo Israel Garzón and Mr. Uriel Macías. Inscription is required at the telephone +34 91 591 31 31.

- In Palma (Mallorca): `Arca, Llegat Jueu´ organises an exhibition of books of Jewish subject with a Sephardic gastronomic tasting, from the 6:30 pm on Pau Street, no 5. Next, the documentary film El último sefardí by M. A. Nieto will be performed. These activities have the collaboration of the Town Council of Palma.

- In Sevilla: at 11 am, the Association Sevilla Sefarad-Legado Sefardí organises a guided tour at the Jewish Quarter (San Bartolomé and Santa Cruz Quarter). Inscription is required at: lsefardi@legadosefardi.org.

- In Valencia: there will be two guided tours to the medieval Jewish Quarter, organised by the Conservative/Masorti Synagogue `La Javurá´. The meeting point will be at Pinazo Square, at 9:30 am and at 9:30 pm.

THE 2nd COURSE ON CULTURAL TOURISM AND JEWISH HERITAGE GOES FORWARD

November 2004

After the great success in participation and large amount of interest caused by the previous edition, the Second course on cultural tourism and Jewish heritage is being prepared in Girona for this coming month of November. Keep an eye on the agenda of activities of Red de Juderías de España.

PESACH 5764 AT THE N.CH KOSHER HOTEL IN TORREMOLINOS

Passover in Malaga

Pesach kasher-kitniot supervised by Rabbi Shaul Khalili Shlita, the Rabbi of the community in Torremolinos Spain, from 5 April (14h.) to 14 April at 12h.
More information: N.CH KOSHER HOTEL
Plaza Gamba Alegre, 5 - 29620 Torremolinos
Tel. (+34) 952-373.780
Fax (+34) 952-382.724

More Information: http://www.n-chhotel.com; e-mail: nch@n-chhotel.com

RESTORATION IN THE OLD PART OF JAEN

Inscriptions until 14th April.

A call has been announced for ideas from architects who want to participate in designing the restoration of a large part of the Jewish quarter of Jaen.

More Information: www.concursosanandres.com

RE-ENCOUNTER: CALAHORRA WITH THE SEPHARDIC PEOPLE

The VII Days of Calagurritanos Studies and the IX Week of Sephardic Music.

In May 2004, the Association Friends of the History of Calahorra will organize the acts of the VII Days of Calagurritanos Studies and the IX Week of Sephardic Music. The program begins Monday 3rd May with the conference by Mr. Enrique Montenegro quarry entitled: The last days of the Jewish presence in Calahorra and the Rioja.

REPORT ON `RED DE JUDERÍAS´ EN BLEU&BLANC

November/December 2004

The monthly Mexican magazine Bleu&Blanc-The Art of Travelling dedicates the cover and the main 18-page article to the Network of Spanish Jewish Sites in its November and December 2004 issue. The route of the Mexican journalists goes through Córdoba, Cáceres, Hervás, Segovia and Toledo. One objective, among others, of this magazine is to make known high-quality tourist destinies of cultural or historical value. It is distributed in the Mexican Republic and through the Mexican Aviation airline.