THE SYNAGOGUETHE SYNAGOGUEOF TRÁNSITO OF TRÁNSITO

(TOLEDO)(TOLEDO)

Teresa García García, 2ºB

IndexIndex1. T1. The Jews of Toledo in the Middle Agehe Jews of Toledo in the Middle Age2. The synagogues in Toledo2. The synagogues in Toledo3. The Synagogue of Tránsito3. The Synagogue of Tránsito

– Characteristics of the buildingCharacteristics of the building– The facadeThe facade– The prayer roomThe prayer room– The pavementThe pavement– The windowsThe windows– The ceilingThe ceiling– The decoration of the wallsThe decoration of the walls

4. The Sephardic Museum4. The Sephardic Museum

1. T1. The Jews of Toledo in he Jews of Toledo in the Middle Agethe Middle Age

44thth century century. There was already a Jewish . There was already a Jewish community in Toledo.community in Toledo.

711711. . With the Muslim conquest of Toledo Jews With the Muslim conquest of Toledo Jews lived a period of great freedomlived a period of great freedom..

1085.1085. With the With the conquest of Toledo by conquest of Toledo by Alfonso Alfonso VIVI, Jews had important positions in the Court., Jews had important positions in the Court.

1212thth century. century. Jewish emigration from Al-Andalus Jewish emigration from Al-Andalus to Toledo.to Toledo.

1313thth century century. . Maximum prosperity of the Jewish Maximum prosperity of the Jewish community of Toledo with community of Toledo with Alfonso X El SabioAlfonso X El Sabio. . Coexistence with Christians and Muslims.Coexistence with Christians and Muslims.

18 June 1391. 18 June 1391. Killings in the Jewish quarter of Killings in the Jewish quarter of Toledo.Toledo.

1492.1492. The The Catholic MonarchsCatholic Monarchs signed the signed the "Edict of"Edict of Expulsion"Expulsion" and all Jews were forced to and all Jews were forced to leave Spain. Some were converted.leave Spain. Some were converted.

The Jewish quarter came to occupy tenth The Jewish quarter came to occupy tenth of Toledo (13of Toledo (13th th century)century)..

Model of the Jewish Quarter of Toledo in the Sephardic Museum

The Jews called Sefarad to SpainThe Jews called Sefarad to Spain..The term “The term “sefardíessefardíes” is used for the ” is used for the descendants of the jews of Sefarad from descendants of the jews of Sefarad from their expulsion up until the present day.their expulsion up until the present day.Many sephardíes still speak Many sephardíes still speak LadinoLadino (Judeo- (Judeo-Spanish) and Spanish) and keep the keys of the homes keep the keys of the homes they left in Spain.they left in Spain.

22. . The synagogues of The synagogues of ToledoToledo

Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca. 13th century

Until the 15Until the 15thth century, inside the Jewish quarter century, inside the Jewish quarter there were more than there were more than 9 synagogues9 synagogues::

- The synagogue of Samuel ha-Leví (Tránsito)- The synagogue of Samuel ha-Leví (Tránsito)- The synagogue of Josef ben Shoshan (Santa - The synagogue of Josef ben Shoshan (Santa María la Blanca)María la Blanca)- Sofer Synagogue- Sofer Synagogue- Swallows Synagogue- Swallows Synagogue- Caleros Sinagogue- Caleros Sinagogue- Old Synagogue…- Old Synagogue…

When the Jews were forced to leave Spain in When the Jews were forced to leave Spain in 1492, the synagogues were 1492, the synagogues were destroyed or destroyed or turned into churchesturned into churches..

Today, only Today, only twotwo of them are preserved (Tránsito of them are preserved (Tránsito and Santa María la Blanca).and Santa María la Blanca).

3. 3. The Synagogue of The Synagogue of TránsitoTránsito

The synagogue shows one of the most The synagogue shows one of the most beautiful examples of beautiful examples of mudéjar stylemudéjar style in in Hispanic-Jewish legacyHispanic-Jewish legacy. .

Built between 1355 and 1357, with the help Built between 1355 and 1357, with the help of King Pedro I of Castile by his treasurer, of King Pedro I of Castile by his treasurer, Samuel ha-Levi.Samuel ha-Levi.

Samuel ha-Levi lived in Toledo,Samuel ha-Levi lived in Toledo,in the palace that is today the Greco Museum.in the palace that is today the Greco Museum.

He died under tortures.He died under tortures.

With the With the expulsion of the expulsion of the Jews the Jews the synagogue was synagogue was taken over by taken over by the the Order of Order of CalatravaCalatrava..

Later it became Later it became the the ChurchChurch of of Nuestra Señora Nuestra Señora del Tránsitodel Tránsito

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the buildingbuilding Mudéjar architecture: a mixture of Christian Mudéjar architecture: a mixture of Christian

and Muslim artand Muslim art.. Made by mudéjar builders.Made by mudéjar builders. Building materials: plaster, brick, ceramic Building materials: plaster, brick, ceramic

and woodand wood.. Building of rectangular plant.Building of rectangular plant. It includes: prayer room, women's gallery, It includes: prayer room, women's gallery,

rooms dedicated to the Rabbinic Shool (today rooms dedicated to the Rabbinic Shool (today rooms of the museum) and rooms of the museum) and an exterior an exterior courtyard where there are remains of a courtyard where there are remains of a possible Mikveh.possible Mikveh.

The facade:The facade: Characterized Characterized forforits simplicityits simplicity

The prayer room :The prayer room :A nave of 23 m. long, 9.5 m. wide and 17 m. A nave of 23 m. long, 9.5 m. wide and 17 m.

highhigh

Ezrat nashim(women's women's gallerygallery)

Holy wall,oriented Jesulalem

The pavement:The pavement:of ceramicof ceramic

Reconstruction of thepavement

The windows:The windows:They are above, to illuminate the roomThey are above, to illuminate the room

Polylobed arches

The ceiling:The ceiling:Polychrome conifer woodPolychrome conifer wood

The decoration of The decoration of the wallsthe walls

Polychrome plasterworkPolychrome plasterwork

Hejal:niche inthe holywall

Heraldic motifs from Castile and Heraldic motifs from Castile and LeonLeon

Vegetable motifs: pine cones, Vegetable motifs: pine cones, acorns, grapes …acorns, grapes …

Geometric motifsGeometric motifs

Inscriptions in Arab and HebrewInscriptions in Arab and Hebrew

Inscriptions in Arab

Inscriptions in Hebrew

In some Arab inscription reads: "Allah is unique”

MocárabesMocárabes

4. The Sephardic 4. The Sephardic MuseumMuseum

The Museum was The Museum was created in 1964 and created in 1964 and installed in the installed in the Synagogue of Synagogue of Tránsito.Tránsito.The Museum reflect The Museum reflect the history of Jews in the history of Jews in Spain, from their Spain, from their arrival in Roman times arrival in Roman times to their expulsion by to their expulsion by the Catholic the Catholic Monarchs.Monarchs.

C) Samuel Leví, s/n

Some pieces of the MuseumSome pieces of the Museum

Menorá Box of the Torá

Sephardic wedding dresses

Interesting websitesInteresting websites

www.museosefardi.mcu.eswww.museosefardi.mcu.es www.toledo-turismo.comwww.toledo-turismo.com www.redjuderias.orgwww.redjuderias.org www.turismocastillalamancha.eswww.turismocastillalamancha.es