SEFARAD: In Search of Things Past
A Florence Melton Seminar To Spain and Israel

* Subject to change  *

The Spain-Israel Seminar, which many seminar graduates have been clamoring for, is now a permanent feature on the Melton Israel Seminars calendar. This seminar provides our special way of exploring on-site insights on the larger Jewish world. The long gestation period has given birth to a wonderful opportunity to explore the world of Sefarad - the rich heritage of one of the great periods of Jewish history, in all its achievement, tragedy and impact on the Jewish people and beyond.

This seminar devotes a week to primary sites in Spain and then follows up with a look at "Sefarad in Israel", picking up the centuries-old traditions of that community and examining its contribution to modern Israel.

Madrid's Plaza Mayor

Wikipedia.org

Day 1 - Sunday
Meet at 3 p.m. at Doc de Duque hotel in Madrid.

Introductions to Seminar and to each other. Field excursion to center of Madrid. Opening dinner in Madrid's kosher restaurant. Meeting with representative voice of Jewish community. Overnight: Madrid.

Roman aqueduct in Segovia	Fortified walls of Avila
Wikipedia.org	Fotografía realizada el 24 agosto de 2002 por el autor.

Day 2 – Monday

Excursion to two special communities. Segovia, a microcosm of the whole story of Jews in Iberia. Avila and the world of Spanish Jewish mysticism. Return to Madrid by early evening. Dinner and evening on your own. Overnight: Madrid.

Interior of the Tránsito Synagogue in Toledo

Wikipedia.org

Day 3 – Tuesday

Depart in the morning for Toledo. Toledo: Jerusalem of Spain. In the evening, continue to Cordoba. Dinner and music program at Casa Sefarad. Overnight Cordoba.

West wall of the Synagogue of Córdoba

Wikipedia.org

Day 4 – Wednesday

Cordoba: City of Moorish rulers; city of Jewish learning. After lunch, stop at Medinat a-Zahra. Travel to Seville. Introduction to Seville: Mighty center of royal power. Special optional activity for evening: Flamenco dancing. Overnight Seville.

Flamenco in Seville

Wikipedia.org

Day 5 – Thursday

Seville: 1391 as beginning of the end. In afternoon, travel to Granada via Lucena (time permitting). Brief Introduction and overview of Granada on arrival. Dinner on own and evening free. Overnight: Granada.

The Alhambra, Granada

Wikipedia.org

Day 6 – Friday

Granada, last hold of Moors; symbol of Expulsion. Study session. Visit to the Alhambra. Closing study session in gardens. Drive to Madrid; reach hotel by 7 p.m. Prepare for Shabbat, including optional Kabbalat Shabbat. Note: Shabbat comes in only after 9 p.m. Special Shabbat meal after services with members of kehilla. Overnight: Madrid.

Day 7 – Shabbat

Shabbat at leisure (no programming until late afternoon). Lunch as per pre-ordering; optional group walk in area in early afternoon). Seudah Shlishiet at 8 p.m. in park near hotel. Discussion with Derek, CEO of Madrid Jewish community. Havdalah. Overnight: Madrid.

Old Tiberias

Day 8 – Sunday

Depart for airport in early morning; reserve with El Al/Iberia on morning flight to Israel. Arrive Tel Aviv in afternoon; transfer to Tiberias. Transition session; start five days in Israel.
Overnight: Hotel Galei Kineret.

Maimonides' grave, Tiberias

Wikipedia.org

Day 9 – Monday

From Exile to Exile. Visit Donna Gracia home and activity. Tour in Upper Galil. From Moses to Moses; activity near Maimonides' grave. Dinner in Tiberias. Overnight: Tiberias.

Grave of Rabbi Simeon Bar Yochai in Meron

Photo by Jonathan Stein

 

Day 10 – Tuesday

Visit Tsfat, Peki'in and Mount Meron. Possible visit to Beit Hatefutsot. Arrive in Jerusalem. Overnight: Inbal Hotel.

The Great Sephardic Synagogue, Yemin Moshe

Day 11 – Wednesday

Jerusalem of Sephardim: Inside the walls – and out (following the Sephardi storyline over 400 years). Inside the Old City. Group lunch. Continuation of program in centre of modern Jerusalem. Evening free. Overnight: Inbal Hotel.

The Sephardi storyline continues...

Day 12 – Thursday

Sephardi Jewry and the Shoah: a special focus. Sefarad and Modern Israeli society, a discussion. Meeting with distinguished member of Sephardi community and summary session. Festive farewell dinner. Overnight: as per individual plans.

FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS AS MADE WILL DETERMINE TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS TO THE AIRPORT. SOME MAY DEPART THURSDAY NIGHT, SOME MAY BE SPENDING THE WEEKEND IN ISRAEL. FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN WHEN A CLEARER PICTURE IS AVAILABLE.

Read a travel blog written by a seminar participant