From 28 to 30 April 2025, PIC Rashi set off to discover the Jewish heritage of the cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz – the SchUM Cities, which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 2021.
The tour began in Speyer, with a visit to the Judenhof (Jewish courtyard), an emblematic site of the medieval Jewish presence in the Rhineland.
It then moved on to Worms, a city deeply connected to Rashi, where he pursued his studies. The old Jewish cemetery, with 2,500 tombs including 800 medieval ones, and the synagogue, rebuilt after WWII, are living witnesses of this centuries-old history.
Lastly, PIC Rashi had the privilege of visiting the old Jewish cemetery of Mainz, which is currently undergoing restructuring to better welcome visitors. It is one of the oldest and most iconic Jewish cemeteries in Europe. Some of the 1,700 headstones date from the 10th and 11th centuries, including those of Rashi’s Master Jacob ben Yaqar and the famous Rabbi Gershom Meor Hagola. The modern synagogue — an architectural feat with strong symbolism — bears his name.
© 1, 2 & 4 : Clara Brancaleoni, PIC Rashi ; 3 : Delphine Yagüe, PIC Rashi