New Excavations under the Carpentras Synagogue

This was, for me personally, one of the highlights of my trip with Kosher River Cruises along the Rhone in the south of France. The President of the Carpentras synagogue, Mr. Meyer Benzecrit, graciously invited me to tour a section of the 14th century synagogue not yet open for public view. Excavations have revealed some amazing things, including underground tunnels that connected Jewish homes in the carriere (Jewish quarter) with the synagogue and the congregational geniza, which contained books and manuscripts from the 1500s.