I TRAVEL

THINKING JUDAICA?
THINK BORENSTEIN'S

French Towns

Continued from preceding page

serves as a record of history.
abgether with the museum
below, it is part of a founda-
tion established to preserve
Jewish history in Cavaillon.
Carpetras, another nearby
town, offers still another
glimpse of Jewish history, for
travelers willing to venture
off the beaten path in Pro-
vence. This town, too, is sleepy
and serene — but its Jewish
history is dramatic.
On a plaza in the center of
town is a modest synagogue
that is believed to be the
oldest in France. It draws
many tourists, Jews and non-
Jews alike, says guide
Henrietta Rochwerger, who
brings many groups here
from Avignon. "People know
about the Roman history of
the region," she says, leading
the way to the synagogue en-
trance. "But they're really
surprised and interested to
learn about the Jewish
history?'
That history goes back to
the Middle Ages. The Jews of
Carpentras built a synagogue
in 1367. It was rebuilt in 1749
and then restored much later,
after it suffered damage dur-
ing the French Revolution in
1789.
Unlike the synagogue of

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25242 Greenfield, Oak Park
North of 10 Mile, in The Royal Plaza
Just South of 1-696

Open Sunday
All Day

NEWS I

English Churchman
Invites PLO Speaker

967-3920

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64

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1991

Cavaillon, this one is still
open for Shabbat services,
which are attended by the
600 Jews who live here. Dur-
ing the week, however, it's fre-
quently visited by tourists,
who come to see the 17th cen-
tury menorah, the elaborate-
ly carved ark, the Oriental
rugs — and to learn about the
Jews who lived under papal
jurisdiction for four centuries.
One unusual reminder of
that regime is the design of
the ceiling of the sanctuary. It
is painted a soft blue, with
white flecks resembling stars.
The reason for this design
tells something of the spirit of
Jews who lived under church
rule.
As Ms. Rochwerger explains
it, the Jews of Carpentras
were told, after their
synagogue was built, that it
was too high because it was
taller than the town church.
They were ordered to lower
the roof on the building. And
they had no choice but to
comply.
"But then they painted the
ceiling of the sanctuary blue,
to resemble the sky," says Ms.
Rochwerger. "And they also
added stars. They wanted to
show that their synagogue
was still reaching heaven." ❑

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London (JTA) — A Church
of England vicar who says he
is "for Israel and for
Palestine" has invited the
London representative of the
Palestine Liberation Organ-
ization to address his con-
gregation at a religious ser-
vice Dec. 15.
The invitation was ex-
tended by the Rev. Tony
Crowe, rector of St. Luke
with Holy Trinity in
Charlton Village, to Afif
Safieh. Mr. Safieh has ac-
cepted the invitation.
"I have heard Mr. Safieh
speak many times and have
been impressed by his elo-
quence, stature and diplo-
macy," said the Rev. Crowe,
who is an active member of
the Council for the Ad-
vancement of Arab-British
Understanding.
Noting that Mr. Safieh is a
practicing Roman Catholic,
the vicar said he would not
have been invited if he were
not a Christian, because the
occasion is a religious one.
He said he consulted his
congregation beforehand
and no one objected.
The Rev. Crowe, 57, con-
ceded that the PLO lost

credibility after it supported
Saddam Hussein of Iraq in
the Gulf War. "But we have
to encourage moderation,
and Mr. Safieh is a
moderate," he said.
"I am for Israel and for
Palestine because I believe
Israel will only survive if
Palestine is recognized," the
Rev. Crowe said.

Hostage Talks
Please Israel

Geneva (JTA) — The
Israeli negotiators that have
been working on a deal to
exchange Shi'ite prisoners
for Western hostages have
expressed satisfaction with
the way U.N. Secretary-
General Javier Perez de
Cuellar has handled the
delicate negotiations.
For the first time, they
said, the United Nations has
shown a real understanding
of Israel's position, which in
this case is to not agree to
any exchange before receiv-
ing tangible evidence about
the fate of seven Israeli
soldiers missing in action in
Lebanon.