"La Casina" / ("The Little House")
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The synagogue of El Fontán-Casina
Today living in the area are between 120 and 130 Jews. There is an organized Jewish community - the Jewish Community of the Principality of Asturias - Oviedo city that is part of the Network of Jewish Quarters in Spain. The community was established on June 29 1992 and maintained its activity in private homes, given the dispersal of its members and the lack of economic resources to deal with rent. Aquí puede ir una foto de Gabino Fortunately in the City of Oviedo under the initiative of the Mayor, Sc. Gabino de Lorenzo Ferrara a small building located in the heart of old town was provided, known as "La Casina" of the Fontan, to the Jewish Community of Asturias. The motivation that led him to this act of generosity was a desire to "return in a symbolic" part of the assets plundered in the expulsion ordered by the Catholic kings over 500 years ago.
This building provides a Jewish cultural center dedicated to the study, dissemination and promotion of Jewish culture in all its aspects. Since his inauguration, which took effect by the Mayor of Oviedo, Mr. Gabino de Lorenzo Ferrara with collaboration from the then Israeli Ambassador in Spain, Ehud Gold, started the activity of the Community with religious and festive activities. Aquí podría ir la foto que tenemos de los dos en la Casina Its members meet every Friday afternoon for the study of the Torah, and the ceremony of the entrance of the Sabbath and religious holidays are observed in community. Domestic cultural activities (film series, Hebrew classes, library services, monthly film) are also conducted, some of which are in collaboration with the City of Oviedo.
Some of them are related to the Department of Tourism through their membership in the Network of Jewish Quarters in Spain such as the European Day of Jewish Culture, consisting of ritual elements, tasting kosher food, and concerts, and exhibitions scheduled in municipal facilities. Aquí una del monolito de la Shoá Others involve the cooperation of the Department of Culture, directed by Mr. José Suárez Arias-Cachero, and include participation in the ceremony to commemorate the Shoah each January 27 and an educational event aimed at students throughout Asturias. In an area called Winter Park, a small plaque was erected to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust; the park opened on January 27, 2005 with the planting of 7 trees around.
The Jewish Community of Asturias is committed to disseminating knowledge of the Holocaust through lectures, exhibitions, and sponsorship of the website www.zivialubetkin.es to honor and sustain the memory of the victims. Teaching units, supported by the Spanish Department of Education at Yad Vashem, for use in schools are provided. Talks in schools on anti-Semitism, Judaism and customs, Jewish culture, and so on are also provided.
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