Granada, Spain – The End of Sephardic Jewry
Granada is the Andalusia of people’s imagination, with its hills, white stucco buildings, flamenco, tea houses, and the Alhambra. It’s no surprise really that its Moorish influenced culture is still […]
Author Archives: shalommorris
Cordoba, Spain – The Beginning of Sephardic Jewry
Sephardic Jewry began in Cordoba. Cordoba was the seat of the Spanish Caliphate. It therefore was a major centre of Jewish life in early Muslim Andalusia, and it remained so until […]
Seville, Spain – Sephardic Centre Stage
Seville plays centre stage in the story of Sephardic Jewish history. Nearly every major development in the Iberian Sephardic experience was first manifest in this beautiful, historic, vibrant, and atmospheric […]
Jews and the Great Fire of London
In all of the recent fanfare surrounding the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London (2-5 September), I didn’t hear any mention of Jews. That’s for good reason. Jews […]
Post #100 – Bevis Marks, World’s Longest Running Synagogue
Which is the world’s longest continuously running synagogue? I posed this question over two month ago, and received many comments and suggestions. My working assumption was that London’s Bevis Marks Synagogue […]
Antwerp to Amsterdam – Escape and Esnoga
Amsterdam’s Portuguese Esnoga (Synagogue) was inaugurated on Shabbat Nahamu, August, 1675. Four men contributed the largest amounts towards the Esnoga’s construction. Among them was Isaac de Pinto. He was born […]
Behind the Scenes at the Esnoga – Amsterdam
Amsterdam’s Portuguese Esnoga (Synagogue) was inaugurated on Shabbat Nahamu, August, 1675. I was graciously invited to speak at the Esnoga over Shabbat to help celebrate the anniversary. The invitation was extended […]
The Montefiore Synagogue – Ramsgate, England
16 Ab is the Nahalah of Sir Moses Mentefiore. He passed away on 28 July, 1885 at the age of 100. Sir Moses is arguably the nineteenth century’s most well known Jew. […]
My First Year in London
It’s now been one year since I moved to London, and what a year it’s been! A new position, a new home, and a new culture all at once. While […]
Tisha B’ab – The Expulsion and the Holocaust Today
The Expulsion from Spain is said to have occurred on the 9th of Ab. While it may have actually transpired a couple of days beforehand, the association is still apt. […]
Shalom Says Hello 