Jewish presence in Barcelona can be traced back to between the mid-9th and the end of the 14th century. What are the hints to this Jewish past? Are there any artifacts from those days? Where are they kept? How do we connect with our history? Which are our places of memory today? The early 20th century marks the beginning of a second chapter of Jewish life in the city. We will learn about the irregular evolution of this community, the second largest in Spain. And we will discover how Jews contributed to some of the “most Spanish” creations.

About Dominique

Born in New York and raised in Buenos Aires, Dominique Tomasov is the grandchild of Jews from Belarus and Ukraine. She obtained her Architecture degree at the University in 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 traditions in Judaism”.

Since arriving in Spain, Dominique believes that the Jewish narrative has to go out on the streets, and her first ground breaking guided walk was in 1999. Since then, sh e has has developed expertise in explaining to the general society about Jewish identity, and to international Jewish visitors about local Jewish culture and history. This is her contribution to the construction of a pluralistic society. After living and working in three countries, she brings together a special combination of history, current affairs, opinions and personal experience.