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BARBARA KINGSTONE

It's the
fastest way to
Israel.

Tr e I

Basel Jewish Museum
Preserves Our Past

BARBARA KINGSTONE SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

I

t was one of those rare, sun-
ny and very hot days totally

One of the curiosities is that
these stones were for the wives
unexpected in Basel, Switzer- and daughters of rabbis, the the-
land.
ory being that other Jews
After the Swiss Air flight and weren't able to afford anything
an easy train ride, I arrived out- other than wood which, with
side the Basel Station from the time, is perishable.
Zurich Airport and was met
Founded in 1966, this
The cou rtyard museum is an astonish-
by my guide for the day.
She insisted on the walk of the Je wish ing one to see.
through a steep maze of Museu m in
Upon entering the
Base I.
wonderful cobbled roads
area, there's a small table
and alleys, proudly showing off with literature, pictures, post-
the hidden back streets of this cards, a donation box and sou-
charming city. She also was the venirs for sale.
only Jewish guide from the
The first room has a collection
tourist office, and since my pur- referring to different festivals.
pose was one that concerns Ju- There's a utensil for the kosher-
daism, the choice was a perfect ing of meat, a plate and ewers
fit. I had returned specifically to from 1550 to 1200 B.C.E. and
write about the only Jewish mu- coins from the Jewish kings of
seum in Switzerland.
Judea.
Many know that this en-
One of the most unusual is a
chanting city was the venue of brit cushion and a book written
the first Zionist Congress held in Hebrew and Latin with the
in 1897. In fact, one could say names of the newborn males
Basel is the city of the official from the 18th century. Anoth-
birthplace of Israel. Basel even er case contains a Swiss-made
has a street named after clock with Hebrew letters from
Theodore Herzl.
the 19th century.
The short walkway to the mu-
But then the reality of the
seum is definitely without horrors of more recent times
grandeur. Just beyond the slid- stuns your senses. There are
ing glass door is a smallish several yellow Stars of David,
courtyard surrounded by a white passports and ghetto gelt. Visi-
stucco building. However, the tors around these articles are
eye is immediately drawn to the suddenly silent.
large tombstones with their He-
One of the rarest objects in the
brew lettering hanging from the collection is the smallest tefill-
outer walls. They date back to in, handwritten in tiny immac-
1231 and all have been well-pre- ulate lettering and all done
served by a strange happen- without a single mistake, the
stance. They were used as guide explained.
building stones; therefore, not
The larger, more impressive
exposed to the various weather room has a selection of oil lamps
changes and elements.
and other objects for Shabbat. A