Like every year on the birthday of the Slovenian poet France Prešeren, Synagogue Maribor is preparing “The Merry Day of Culture”, an event traditionally organised by Slovenian cultural institutions, under the wing of Ministry of Culture.
On Tuesday, 3. 12. 2019, we invite you to Synagogue Maribor (Židovska ulica 4), where we prepared an interesting cultural programme for you:
– Open Doors Day, from 10:00 to 20:00. Free entry to the Synagogue Maribor!
– History of Jews in Maribor and around the world, at 11:00 and at 13:00, two guided tours of the exhibition in Slovenian
The Maribor Synagogue is one of the oldest still standing synagogues in Europe, built by an important and wealthy medieval Jewish community in Maribor. The exhibition takes us through the history of Jews in Maribor; from their arrival in the area, life in medieval Maribor, the importance of the synagogue of Maribor, the famous Rabbi Isserlein of Maribor, the expulsion of Jews from Maribor, the Morpurgo family, up until the restoration of the synagogue.
– Marpurgi (TV documentary, Casablanca film production, 2012, 50 min), at 16:30, screening of documentary
Jew from Trieste remembers the stories of his grandfather about the medieval town of Maribor, from where his family originated. And the stories about most important Jewish communities in Slovenian, which left its mark at that time living in this trade hub between Venice and Vienna (http://www.casablanca.si/marpurgi.html).
The film presents the story of once thriving Jewish community that had to leave the city of Maribor by the end of the 15th century. The Jews of Maribor were skilled traders; they were involved in money-lending business as well. Their community was one of more important Jewish communities in the medieval Dutchy of Styria, whereat one of the most prominent community members was Rabbi Israel/Isserlein ben Petachia.
– Concert of music group Kontra-Kvartet, at 18:30
Acoustic music group Kontra-Kvartet is one of rare Slovenian groups performing traditional Jewish klezmer. Klezmer is energetic music of Ashkenazi Jews from south-eastern Europe, which due to its liveliness, vividness, melodical rhythm and sensibility never leaves us indifferent.
