ISRAEL MUSEUM:   JEWISH LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES

by Raina Farmer,       10^th  grade,          Pennsylvania

By the time of the Middle Ages Jews had officially become a diaspora community. The Holy Temple had been destroyed in 70 CE, and Eretz Yisrael, then called Palestina was under foreign control. Some Jews migrated to Sfarad (Spain), and some to Ashkenaz (Germany). Jews in Muslim Spain enjoyed Dhimmi status (protected yet second-class), which allowed them to prosper both financially and spiritually. However, All Jews were expelled from the country in 1492. This dispersion led to the creation of Jewish communities all across Northern Africa and in the lands of the Mediterranean. In the middle ages, Ashkenazi Jews often made their livings as merchants and traders, using their connection to other Jews as an advantage in international trade. This success led to the Ashkenazi Jews later being invited into Eastern Europe to improve the economies there. These circumstances led to Judaism spreading across the globe, and merging with the surrounding cultures to create traditions we are still influenced by today. These medieval traditions are showcased in a fascinating exhibit in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.

Heller High students at the Israel Museum on the way to the Jewish Life exhibit

A few weeks after our first attempt was thwarted by Angela Merkel’s arrival, we had finally made it to the Israel Museum. (Our first scheduled visit to the museum was cancelled at the last minute when it was closed for the visit of the German chancellor.) Of course, we couldn’t start our tiyul without first seeing the colossal model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period. From a bird's eye view, we saw in tiny detail the ruins we had explored brought back to life in the ancient times. From this angle, we saw the mansions of the cohenim, the incredible Beit Hamikdash of Herod, and the ancient Ir David (City of David). After this flashback to the 2nd temple period, we continued our educational journey through the Middle Ages, and across the world.

the model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple Period at the Israel Museum

Synagogues of the Middle Ages

Since the time of Galut Bavel in 586 BCE (Babylonian exile), Synagogues have been the center of Jewish life and community. To see how the surrounding cultures impacted these spaces, we examined 4 synagogues from across the diaspora.

Vittorio Veneto Synagogue, Venice Italy 17th Century

When we first entered this Italian synagogue, it was like walking into a piece of art from the baroque period. The Holy ark took up nearly the whole eastern wall, and was covered in ornate decoration with gold plating. Even the wallpaper showed impeccable detailing, with a blue filigree pattern. On first glance, this could have been mistaken as one of Europe’s famous churches, but on closer inspection, we see the difference in cultures. Where churches often show Jesus, or other biblical figures, the Vittorio Veneto displayed crowns of Judah and Torah, abstaining from unkosher images.

the ornate baroque-style ark of the Vittorio Veneto Synagogue from the region of Venice, Italy

Another staple of synagogues of the time was the seating, instead of rows like we often see today, these medieval sanctuaries offered 360 degree seating, and an elevated women’s section.

Kadavumbagam Synagogue, Cochin India, 16th Century

In medieval times, builders used, and mastered only the materials they had nearby. India, like most countries, had a lot of wood. The first thing I noticed walking into the reconstructed synagogue was the incredibly carved wooden ark, displaying sfaradi style Torahs. Still avoiding graven images, the wood carvings show grapes, flowers, and a menorah- the symbol of our Beit HaMikdash.

intricate carved wood ark of the Kadavumbagam Synagogue from Cochin, India

Beyond the ark however, we do not see much Judaism displayed. In fact, the middle eastern decor and lack of seating means that without the ark, this building could have been mistaken for any other mosque from the time.

torah scrolls encased in metal covering in the Kadavumbagam Synagogue from Cochin, India

interior of the Kadavumbagan Synagogue.  Cochin, India

Horb Synagogue, Bavaria Germany, 18th Century

Relocated to the museum after most of it was destroyed, this synagogue was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The wooden walls, and curved ceiling of the small building were completely covered in brightly colored paintings of fruit, flowers, and detailed animals, some mythological. By this point in history, it had been decided that pictures of animals could be considered kosher under Halacha.

painted ceiling of the 17th century Horb Synagogue from southern Germany

Unlike the other synagogue’s we’d seen, this one had a small ark, a simply decorated hole in the wall. We don’t know much about the rest of this synagogue, as most of it decomposed, but it is beautiful nonetheless.

Tzedek V’Shalom Synagogue, Pari Maribo Surinam

While the other Synagogues showed clear ties to the land they were located in, our group had trouble recognizing this one’s roots. This was due to the signs in both Dutch and Hebrew. We automatically assumed it must be from the Netherlands, but we were wrong. This assumption led to a discussion about the migration and colonization of the Jews in Suriname, the only South American country that speaks Dutch.

the interior of the Tzedek v'Shalom Synagogue from Suriname in the Sefardi style

While the synagogue is more modestly decorated than the others we’ve seen, it still contained many Jewish identifying features, such as the colossal ark, decorative menorahs, 360 degree seating, and pulpit set at the back of the sanctuary.

the floor of the Tzedek v'Shalom synagogue is covered in sand!

the bima of the Tzedek v'Shalom Synagogue from Suriname

Another unique and interesting element of this synagogue is the sand floor, an old sfaradi custom. The reasoning behind this flooring choice has been explained in many ways, such as- a fireproofing implement, a way to keep floors clean, or even a metaphor for the diaspora communities.

Standing Out In a Crowd: Jewish Dress in the Diaspora

Whether Ashkenazi or Sfaradi, wherever in the diaspora they called home, Jews have always stood out from their neighbors. In language, in culture, and more visibly, in dress.

examples of wardrobe of Jews from north Africa on display

A main way of identifying the Jews in a society was hats. As a sign of modesty, and devotion to god, both men and women covered their heads. Sfaradi Jews used a number of different hats, scarves and other coverings. Ashkenazi ultra-orthodox men wore yarmulkes or streimels (large fur hats), and the women wore wigs over shaved heads.

traditional shabbat garb and streimel (fur hat) of  hassidic Jews from eastern Europe

kippah from a north African Jewish community

Another distinguishing feature of many sfaradi women was their intricate jewelry. Fashioned mostly from the plentiful silver, and colorful beads, women would wear these giant necklaces on the days of their weddings

a decorative necklace worn by Yemenite Jews

Jewish traditions follow Jews throughout the year, and throughout our lives

Holidays

While the Jewish culture has many traditions related to holidays, the implementation of these traditions differed in the various diaspora communities. A great example of this is the Israel museum’s wall of hanukkiot, showcasing the different materials and styles used across the world to make Hanukah menorahs.

this set of nine oil vessels is actually a Hanukah menorah, one of dozens on display

Birth

Upon the birth of the firstborn son, his parents gave a cohen 5 silver coins to redeem him in the eyes of god. On his Bar Mitzvah, the boy would get the coins back. This custom represents the long lasting commitment of the Jewish people to their ancient traditions, and to the temple.  This custom is called pidyon ha ben.

coins on display from a "Pidyon HaBen" ceremony

Bat mitzvah

It was during the Middle Ages that girls started getting bat mitzvahed. While they did not get a tallit, or to read from the Torah, it was still a monumental step forward towards gender equality in Judaism

a bat mitzvah dress from the U.S. on display in the Jewish life-cycle exhibit

Weddings

On top of the exceptional jewelry and prayers, Jewish weddings carried one more meaningful tradition- the breaking of glass against a huppa stone. This shattering on such a happy day reminds the couple of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and is said to ward off evil. This tradition has transformed over the years into the stepping on a glass at modern Jewish weddings. A less well-known tradition from the Middle East called “The Red Tent” had the newlyweds consummate their marriage in public, only protected from public eyes by thin tent fabric. The sheets would then be paraded around the guests to prove the bride’s virginity.

a "chuppa stone" from a synagogue in Germany used for breaking the glass at a wedding

Death

In Judaism, death is regarded as something impure, so bodies are buried as soon as possible. Instead of being put in caskets, bodies are wrapped in shrouds and put in the ground. Some ancient Jews would wear their burial shrouds for the first time on their wedding day, as a reminder that death is a part of life, and unavoidable. At the time, there was an organization who carried out the burial practices called “the holy friends” hevre kadisha these people would collect donations on the anniversary of Moses’s death to help pay for these services.

a collection glass from the burial society (Hevre Kadisha) of the Prague community

While the Middle Ages are over, and Eretz Yisrael is once again under Jewish sovereignty, the diaspora is not over. We, as global Jewish communities, are still creating, and adapting traditions. Perhaps in a few centuries there will be a new exhibit in the Israel museum on us, the American Jewish community.