Memory, Heritage & History Through Jewish Eyes with Paul Forgasz Session 2
Tuesday, March 11 @ 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
Join renowned tour educator and guide, Paul Forgaz, for a compelling three-part series that explores the interplay between Jewish memory, place, and heritage. Drawing from his extensive experience leading Jewish heritage tours across Europe, Paul will guide participants through the unique ways Jewish history and culture are woven into the fabric of significant sites. Each session offers rich historical insights and a deeper appreciation of how visiting locations connects travelers to the enduring legacy of Jewish life.
The series begins with a broad framework for understanding how travel enhances the educational experience of Jewish history. By way of an illustrative case study, the series then focuses on the fascinating and complex history of Jews in Spain, delving into the vibrant eras of medieval Muslim and Christian rule.
Session 2: Jewish Life in Muslim Spain: Flourishing Under the Crescent – March 11, 2024 4pm
Step back into the Golden Age of Jewish life under Muslim rule in medieval Spain, a period marked by remarkable intellectual, cultural, and spiritual achievement. In this session you will be transported to a time when Jewish communities thrived within the dynamic society of Al-Andalus. Paul will explore the profound impact of Spanish Jewish poets, philosophers, and scholars whose works resonated far beyond their era.
Through vivid descriptions of key cities like Córdoba and Granada as leading centres of a Jewish “golden age” and hubs of artistic and cultural exchange, Paul will bring to life the stories of coexistence and creativity that defined this unique period under the crescent of Muslim rule. You will learn how heritage travel can transform historic sites into powerful connections to the rich and multifaceted history of Jewish Spain.
Paul Forgasz
For more than a decade, Paul Forgasz was principal of the secondary (grades 7-12) campus of Mt Scopus College, a large K-12 Jewish day school in Melbourne, Australia. He also lectured in Bible and Jewish history at Monash University’s Australian Centre for Jewish Civilisation and taught about Jewish education, as well as school leadership, in the university’s Faculty of Education. Since 2010, Paul has also curated and led Jewish study tours to various European destinations under the auspices of the Jewish Museum of Australia. For most of his professional life, Paul has also been actively involved in Jewish-Christian dialogue and he also works closely with teachers in the Catholic education sector.
- Session 3: Jewish Life in Christian Spain: A Legacy of Triumph and Tragedy – March 18, 2024 4pm
This series is perfect for educators, students, and anyone passionate about Jewish heritage, offering an inspiring and immersive exploration of memory, place, and history.