Due to the studies that we do about Jewish heritage in Catalonia,
we receive information from other regions. This is how we
have been informed that in the area of Lucena (Andalusia),
an ancient Jewish cemetery was discovered during excavations
for the construction of the city's beltway.
A letter was immediately sent to the President of the Federation
of Jewish Communities of Spain, Mr. Jacob Israel Garzón,
to make him aware of the situation and to allow that the Federation
takes the necessary measures to avoid removing bodies in this
city and in other areas of Spain.
City renewal, which is taking place in many areas of the country,
brings about excavations beyond the original middle ages city's
boundaries, where no development had been taken place before.
It is worth remembering the relevance of Lucena for Jewish
history, as it was the center of the yeshiva of Rabí
Itsjaq Alfasi (Ri’’f) in the XI and XII centuries.
Rabi Iehuda Halevi was one of
its most reknowned scholars, and teachings from Lucena have
spread throughout Spain.
