Jewish heritage protected under historical monuments in paca
© drac paca - crmh, Martine Audibert, 2002
The presence of Jewish communities in Provence has been documented since ancient times. In the Middle Ages, these communities lived in good harmony and much better than in the rest of Europe. However, we must distinguish a period of great tension after the Black Plague of 1348, then again, when Provence was attached to the royal crown in 1481, when Louis XII decided to expel the Jews from all Provence. From 1501, all those who do not leave must convert.
The Popes of Avignon, in the 14th century, protected and welcomed in the Comtat-Venaissin the Jewish communities expelled from Languedoc and Provence. They are grouped essentially in the four main cities: Avignon, Carpentras, Cavaillon, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue as well as to Pernes-les-Fontaines.
At the end of the 18th century, thanks to the evolution of ideas and the French Revolution, Jews regained full citizenship. The incorporation of the Comtat-Venaissin in 1791 allowed the integration of the Pope’s Jews into French society.
From the beginning of the nineteenth century, a large number of "Pope’s Jews" and other Israelites settled in cities throughout Provence, mainly in Marseille and to Nice. Some become notables who are very involved in the public and economic life of the city.
The heritage linked to the Jewish communities is characterized by very high houses, grouped in thecareerProvençal name meaning the street. The synagogueis both a place of worship, a meeting room and a school. In this area there is also the bakery to make the unleavened bread and the ritual bathor "mikvé" in Hebrew. The cemetery specific is established outside the city.
Considered a component of national heritage, the synagogues of the Comtat have been protected since 1924 under the historical monuments. Since then, as part of a policy of reasoned protection of Jewish heritage in the regions, other witnesses have been classified or registered among historical monuments, or labeled 20th century heritage.
Des movable objects related to the worship of the Jewish religion were also classified as historical monuments.
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