{{Short description|Jewish museum in Toledo, Spain}} {{more citations needed|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox museum | name = Sephardic Museum | native_name = Museo Sefardí | native_name_lang = es | image = 5 24 11 02 44 PM (5801686071).jpg | mapframe-zoom=15 | coordinates={{coord|39.8558|N|4.0293|W|source:wikidata|display=it}} | established = 13 June 1971 | location = Calle Samuel Levi 2, Toledo, Spain | type = | collection_size = | owner = General State Administration }}
The '''Sephardic Museum''' ({{langx|es|Museo Sefardí}}) is a museum in Toledo, Spain, devoted to the Jewish cultural heritage in Spain, as well as of the Sephardim, the descendants of the Jews who lived on the Iberian peninsula until 1492. It occupies the former convent of the Knights of Calatrava, annexed to the Synagogue of El Tránsito. It is one of the National Museums of Spain and it is attached to the Ministry of Culture.
== History == A 1964 decree created the institution<ref>[https://www.boe.es/eli/es/d/1964/03/18/874 Decree 874/1964], of March 18, whereby the Sephardic Museum of Toledo is created.</ref> and installation work began the following year.<ref>[https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-1965-9662 Decree 1150/1965], of April 8, on works of installation of the Sephardic Museum at the synagogue of El Tránsito, in Toledo.</ref> The museum was opened to visitors on 13 June 1971.{{Sfn|López Álvarez|Palomero Plaza|Menéndez Robles|1994|p=240}} In this way, aspirations dating back at least to 1915 became a reality, as many "testimonies of Jewish culture as may be found scattered throughout the Museums of Spain" were collected in one building .{{Sfn|López Álvarez|Palomero Plaza|Menéndez Robles|1994|pp=239}} The collection was originally hosted in the halls formerly occupied by the archives of the orders of Calatrava and Alcántara.{{Sfn|López Álvarez|Palomero Plaza|Menéndez Robles|1994|p=240}}
In accordance with Royal Decree 1305/2009, of July 31, creating the Spanish Museum Network, the ''Museo Sefardí'' is one of the National Museums owned and managed by the State and attached to the Ministry of Culture.
== History of the Jewish people ==
The first room shows the history, geography and culture of the Jewish people in the Middle East, where according to the biblical writings the traditions that endured in their daily life originated. Archaeological objects dated between the 2000 B.C. and the 1st century A.C. are shown, as well as a variety of cultural objects related to Jewish life, what this is and what it means, as well as the beliefs and customs of the Jews. This collection highlights a Torah (sacred book of the Judaism, the compilation of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Pentateuch) and other liturgical objects.
== The Jews in the Iberian peninsula ==
The following elements of the Jewish presence in Spain are described: their arrival in the Iberian Peninsula, their life in Roman and Visigoth times, their development in the Al-Andalus as well as in the Christian kingdoms during the 13th and 15th centuries, the conversions, the Inquisition and the expulsion in 1492.
In the north courtyard, is a necropolis, where some of the sepulchral tombstones of Jewish characters from different parts of Spain are displayed. In the courtyard the archaeological remains of some possible public baths of the old Jewish quarter of Toledo and the ground of the old Torah ark (main wall) of the synagogue are conserved.
== The Sephardim and their way of life ==
The toponym Sepharad appears in the Bible in verse 20 of the book of Obadiah; since the Middle Ages the word ''Sepharad'' has been used in the Hebrew language to designate Spain or the Iberian Peninsula in general and, later, in academia and other languages of culture, to Jewish Spain in particular. The use by extension of the adjective ''Sephardic'' is also relatively frequent to designate the Jew of the medieval ''Sepharad'', according to the meaning of the word ''Sephardic'' in the Hebrew language.
This section is shown in the women's gallery, a special room, where the women who attended the synagogue could follow the liturgy. As in other cultures, Judaism does not allow women to do this in the prayer room. In the women's gallery space, which preserves part of its original plasterwork decoration, there are showcases related to the daily life of the Sephardim, including their birth, education, main festivals and death.
==Gallery== <gallery heights=200 mode=packed caption="Museum collection" > Tallit, museo sefardí, Toledo, España, 2015.jpg Cubertería judía, museo sefardí, Toledo, España, 2015.jpg Recipientes y jarrita, museo sefardí, Toledo, España, 2015.jpg Joyería sefardí, museo sefardí, Toledo, España, 2015.jpg Hebreo, museo sefardí, Toledo, España, 2015.jpg </gallery>
== See also == {{Stack|{{portal|Judaism|Spain}}}} * History of the Jews in Spain * Belmonte Jewish Museum * Jewish Quarter Museum, Granada * Red de Juderías de España
== References == ;Citations {{reflist}} ;Bibliography * {{Cite journal|year=1994|title=Museo Sefardí de Toledo (Nacional de Arte Hispano Judío): Nuevo proyecto museístico|first=Ana María|last=López Álvarez|first2=Santiago|last2=Palomero Plaza|first3=María Luisa|last3=Menéndez Robles|journal=Boletín de la ANABAD|issn=0210-4164|volume=44|issue=3|pages=239–261|url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/50923.pdf}}
== External links== *[http://museosefardi.mcu.es/index.html museosefardi.mcu.es] *[https://artsandculture.google.com/partner/museo-sefardi?hl=en Sephardic Museum] within Google Arts & Culture *{{commons category-inline}}
{{National Museums of Spain}} {{Tourism in Toledo}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Jewish museums in Spain Sephardic Sefardí Category:Jews and Judaism in Toledo, Spain Category:Museums in Toledo, Spain