• • • Flip a coin. --J • An inscription on a synagogue wall in Spain. Discovering History OfSpain's Jews EL AL is a partner in the American Express Membership Rewarce program. Check out EL AL's Website at: http://www.elal.co.il or ExpressNet, the American Express interactive service on America Online. EL:" AL The Airline Israel mr SILK f, VACA non BARBARA KINGSTONE SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS ISRAEL ONI Karpt:, tuHi t1. sr TI IAN YOl. Cards Holiday Inn Pkg: Avail 11/4/96-3/31/97 (except 12/13/96-1/5/97). Must stay in at least two Holiday Inns. $23 p/person. p/nt surcharge in Tel Aviv after 3rd night. Consec. nts. dble occ. Single supp applies. Insur, gas. mileage not included and $20 pick-up/drop-off charge at Ben Gurion Apt. Sunsational Car: $20 pick-up/drop-off charge at Ben Gurion Apt. Gas & insur. not included. Israel & Beyond: Avail 11/1/96-3/31/97. $60 tkt. non-refundable. All Offers: Must be purchased in USA prior to departure. 14 day adv. purch. req'd. 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As early as 4 B.C.E., there is mention of Jews in Spain, al- though it is purported that the first Jews arrived in the time of King Solomon. Certainly by the end of the Roman Empire, Jewish communities were firmly estab- lished in Spain, eventually grow- ing to a population of 60,000. Girona's importance as a cen- ter of Jewish culture (it once had the largest Jewish population in Catalonia outside Barcelona) re- lies heavily on one man: the fa- mous 12th-century doctor, rabbi, philosopher and kabbalist Nah- manides. Today, despite Girona's 70,000 inhabitants, there are no syna- gogues nor are there Jews living in this northeastern Spanish town. There is, however, some fascinat- ing archaeological evidence of their existence. After crossing the Onyar River on the edge of Girona by way of the Eiffel Bridge, past the wide pedestrian shopping street, one enters the Call. Up the steep, cob- blestone twisting alley is the new- ly established Jewish museum, the Isaac el Cec Center, where doc- AIM uments date to the 10th century. Buildings here — which usual- ly had all the communal services _ including a synagogue and school, small government, ritual baths, burial grounds and a kosher butcher — are being renovated thanks to a resurgence of interest 41P-' in the history of Spanish Jews. At the bottom of each of the dark streets are the ancient re- mains of gates, closed when there was a special religious fete for Catholics. While the gates kept the Jews out, they also served as protection for the community. "Sometimes the relationship was very good and sometimes it got so bad almost all the Jews were killed," said my guide. From the shadowed street, we enter a 40 bright square. The cobblestones have been replaced by a huge Star of David mosaic. Here in the Jewish Quarter, there are three more ally-like streets, but none is yet open to the public. Some archaeological re- mains have been found which in- dicate the presence of a synagogue. The restoration is progressing very slowly.0 1110 Publicity Deadlines BERKLEY TOURS AND TRAVEL, INC. 559-8620 OR 1-800-875-TOUR (8687) A ,10 a.m. the sun is shining KING DAVID T•O•U•R•S For More Information Call: 419-843-7722 800-727-1515 Ask about our special bonus program The normal deadline for local news and publicity items is noon Thursday, eight days prior to issue date. The deadline for birth announcements is 10 a.m. Monday, four days prior to issue date; out-of-town obituaries, 10 a.m. Tuesday, three days prior to issue date. All material must be typewritten, double-spaced, on 81/2 x 11 paper and include the name and daytime telephone number of sender.