Views of Old Jewish Cemetery in Worms

 

Rashi and the Jewish Museum Worms

In the Middle Ages, the Jewish community in Worms enjoyed a high reputation throughout western Europe as “Little Jerusalem on the Rhine”. Still today, there are unique records and reminders of Jewish life to be seen and visited in Worms, among them the Jewish Museum in the Rashi House. 

Rabbi Solomon ben Isaac (Shlomo Yitzhaki), known as Rashi (based on an acronym of his Hebrew initials), is one of the most influential Jewish commentators in history. He was born in Troyes, Champagne, in northern France, in 1040.

At age 17, Rashi received an education in the yeshiva of Rabbi Yaakov ben Yakar in Worms, where the “Rashi Chapel” was built years after his death (this chapel was subsequently destroyed during the German occupation in World War II, and rebuilt in 1950). At age 25, he returned to Troyes, where he became a rabbi. Since rabbis were not yet paid officials at this point in time, Rashi also worked with his family in the local vineyards. In 1070, he founded a yeshiva where he taught many disciples, some of whom would also go on to become prominent Jewish scholars. In 1096, Rashi witnessed the massacre of friends and family members at the hands of Crusaders en route to the Holy Land. He died in 1105 in Troyes.

Rashi’s best-known works are his comprehensive commentaries on the Bible and the Babylonian Talmud. All editions of the Talmud published since the 1520s have included Rashi’s commentary in the margins. His commentaries on the Bible have become a foundational element of Jewish education to this day; they are often taught side by side with the Torah when students begin learning in yeshivas and Jewish day schools. Rashi’s commentaries on the Bible are based on the Masoretic text, a version of the Bible compiled by scholars between the seventh and 10th centuries, in which they clarified pronunciation by establishing a vowel notation system. In preparing the Masoretic version, the scholars also tallied the number of times particular words appeared, presumably in an effort to determine those words’ significance.

(All of the above quoted from Google: "Jewish Museum in the Rashi House")

Plaque outside the Rashi House

Modern sculptural statue honoring Rashi

Interior of Jewish Museum

Statue of the Golem

An exhibit in the Museum 

Frankfurt Jewish Museum Interior Scenes

 

Rothschild House -> Jewish Museum

The fabulously wealthy and influential German Jewish Rothschild family once lived in Frankfurt, and part of their former residence has been expanded and updated into the Jewish Museum Frankfurt. Some interior views will be posted tomorrow.

 

Frankfurt Scenes

 Not all of Frankfurt is majestically modern. Some (but a smaller proportion than in most cities) is ramshackle or old and tired.

Frankfurt Balkan Eatery

 A pleasant Balkan eatery in Frankfurt, near our hotel.

Frankfurt (1)

From Hamburg we flew to Frankfurt, to undertake an exploration of the "ShUM Cities" in central Germany, which, along with Prague, are at the root of medieval Jewish history in Europe. Frankfurt itself is not one of the ShUM Cities (Speyer, Worms, and Mainz), but it is the conveniently-located air hub of Germany, and it turns out to hold a fine Jewish museum which was once the home of the Rothschild family. In addition to all that, the contemporary architecture is spectacular.

Hamburg (3)

 Decoration over the centuries in Hamburg.

Hamburg (2)

 In a celebratory mood.

Hamburg, Germany (1)

Our voyage around the British Isles ended in Hamburg, Germany. We had been there a couple of times before over the years, but this was a good opportunity to further explore an attractive city.  The spectacular new concert hall, Elbphilharmonie, stands in the background of the first picture.

Sao Paulo Murals (11)

 

Sao Paulo Murals (10)

 

Sao Paulo Murals (9)