Exhibition: Hidden treasures of the ancient synagogue

Hidden treasures of the ancient synagogue

The exhibition “Hidden Treasures of the Ancient Synagogue” highlights, for the first time, objects, manuscripts and parchments found in the ancient Israelite temple in Cavaillon.

These pieces, sometimes modest in appearance, nevertheless tell a rare story: that of the local Jewish community, the Pope's Jews, present in Comtat Venaissin for several centuries.

A strong heritage exhibition, which invites you to rediscover an essential part of the history of Cavaillon and its former synagogue, one of the oldest in France.

Four centuries of local history highlighted

Cavaillon has a very rich Jewish heritage. Its ancient synagogue, remarkable for its antiquity, preserves the memory of a community long established in the heart of the city.

The objects presented in this exhibition bear witness to the religious, family, social and spiritual life of the Pope's Jews. They make it possible to better understand the unique history of this community in Comtat Venaissin.

Nearly a hundred years after their discovery, these treasures are collected and presented to the public in order to reveal all their historical, cultural and symbolic value.

Treasures found in the attic of the synagogue

In Jewish tradition, a genizah is a place where used religious texts and objects are kept that cannot simply be thrown away. That of Cavaillon has delivered an exceptionally rich set.

A rare and precious collection

Because of their age, their diversity and their state of conservation, these objects constitute an exceptional testimony of Jewish life in Cavaillon and Comtat Venaissin.