About this talk

Jewish presence in the Iberian Peninsula can be traced back to the first centuries of the Common Era and lasted until the end of the 15th century. However, this timeline varies depending on the region and even the city. In the case of Catalonia—a region whose capital is Barcelona—there was a Jewish community from the mid-9th century until the end of the 14th century. After 400 to 500 years, most buildings from the Middle Ages in Spain were either reconstructed or built over.

What are the clues that reveal Jewish presence in the urban environment, in religious art, and in archival records? Are there any artifacts from that time? If so, where are they kept?
The early 20th century marks the beginning of a second chapter of Jewish life—one we hope will not be interrupted. 

Focusing on Barcelona, we will explore the irregular evolution of its Jewish community—the second largest in Spain, with approximately 5,000 members today. 

And, very importantly, how do we connect with our past? What are our places of memory today? Taking the ancient Jewish cemetery as an example, we will address the challenge of heritage management—an area where religion and science have yet to find common ground.

About Dominique

Born in New York and raised in Buenos Aires, Dominique Tomasov Blinder is the grandchild of Jews from Belarus and Ukraine. She obtained her Architecture degree at the University of Buenos Aires, and she is also registered in New York and Barcelona. A founding member of the first egalitarian synagogue in Spain, she is responsible for its Chevra Kadisha. She specializes in Jewish heritage as an independent researcher, educator, and activist.

She co-founded The Center of Studies Zakhor, established to
protect the ancient Jewish cemetery in Barcelona. Thanks to
the Center's actions, the site received official designation as a
historical landmark. Other projects include research to define its extension (with a grant from The Rothschild Foundation) and the publication of the book "Funerary tradition in Judaism".

Since 1992 Dominique has been involved in Jewish heritage, culture and community life. Bringing together a special combination of history, current affairs, opinions, and personal experience, she explains to locals and visitors about Jewish identity, culture and history. She is now mainly involved with actions to turn the ancient Jewish cemetery a true place of memory.