Sephardic Memory: Liturgical and Domestic Furniture in the Medieval Haggadot of Hispanic Origin

Abstract

The ignorance about the pieces of furniture of the Spanish Jews is practically total since archeology does not offer us a solid base. Those who left quickly adapted to the uses and customs of the host countries and although the memory of these objects persisted in the Judeo-Spanish language, in practice, and in daily life, the certainty of their image and use would eventually be lost. The abundant documentation on the assets of the converted Jews, supported by medieval plastic representation, would allow a convenient reconstruction of the different types of furniture and belongings that made up the decoration of the Jewish house and the synagogue. The Haggadot offer an idea quite close to the rich and varied reality of these pieces of furniture.