Rating
4.4/5 (based on Google user reviews)
Interesting Sites Nearby
User Reviews
Frankie Simon (15 months ago)
Shame. Extremely disappointed with the staff. Visited the museum and noticed a young man who hid a "Palestine" sticker under his coat, then took taunting photos with his friends in front of the exhibited artifacts from the expelled Sephardic Jewish community this museum focuses on. I found it unbelievably disrespectful: I would never go to a Muslim Community museum with an Israel shirt and take "F You" photos to taunt and disrespect that community. Note there is NOTHING in the museum about Israel or Palestine or the conflict in the middle east so this behavior was directly targeting Jews, which was offensive to me as a Jewish person who came to Toledo and this museum in particular to connect to the rich heritage and history of my people. When alerting a member of the staff (who hardly spoke English) to this, they said "this is okay, I don't see an issue". A second staff member (who also hardly spoke English) repeated the same thing, adding "this isn't a problem because it's a museum and not a synagogue". What?! Again, I dare any decent person to try this in a Muslim Community museum. I talked to another member of the staff (who didn't speak English at all) who said I should wait so I can complain officially. After several minutes they went away to look for either the young man or the first staff member so I could confront them (I am guessing, they didn't really explain what was happening). I was not going to stay and argue using Google Translate having already spent 15 minutes trying to explain myself to insensitive staff members. I left, upset and distraught. This to me was a low point in my trip and extremely discouraging and disappointing to experience from the staff of a museum which in my opinion is supposed to treat its subjects with some level of honor. I am ashamed and offended, the people running the museum should not be in charge if they can't find the fault in this situation. I will never set foot there again.
Shame. Extremely disappointed with the staff. Visited the museum and noticed a young man who hid a "Palestine" sticker under his coat, then took taunting photos with his friends in front of the exhibited artifacts from the expelled Sephardic Jewish community this museum focuses on. I found it unbelievably disrespectful: I would never go to a Muslim Community museum with an Israel shirt and take "F You" photos to taunt and disrespect that community. Note there is NOTHING in the museum about Israel or Palestine or the conflict in the middle east so this behavior was directly targeting Jews, which was offensive to me as a Jewish person who came to Toledo and this museum in particular to connect to the rich heritage and history of my people. When alerting a member of the staff (who hardly spoke English) to this, they said "this is okay, I don't see an issue". A second staff member (who also hardly spoke English) repeated the same thing, adding "this isn't a problem because it's a museum and not a synagogue". What?! Again, I dare any decent person to try this in a Muslim Community museum. I talked to another member of the staff (who didn't speak English at all) who said I should wait so I can complain officially. After several minutes they went away to look for either the young man or the first staff member so I could confront them (I am guessing, they didn't really explain what was happening). I was not going to stay and argue using Google Translate having already spent 15 minutes trying to explain myself to insensitive staff members. I left, upset and distraught. This to me was a low point in my trip and extremely discouraging and disappointing to experience from the staff of a museum which in my opinion is supposed to treat its subjects with some level of honor. I am ashamed and offended, the people running the museum should not be in charge if they can't find the fault in this situation. I will never set foot there again.
Ava Ben-David (15 months ago)
Incredible museum. The signs describing some of the artifacts were only in Spanish, so I had to use google translate. Nevertheless, this place was so worth the visit if you’re in Toledo!!
Incredible museum. The signs describing some of the artifacts were only in Spanish, so I had to use google translate. Nevertheless, this place was so worth the visit if you’re in Toledo!!
Shelley Magnezi (2 years ago)
Very interesting synagogue museum in Toledo. It depicts Jewish community life and the history of the Jews of Spain. Unfortunately none of the content is in English.
Very interesting synagogue museum in Toledo. It depicts Jewish community life and the history of the Jews of Spain. Unfortunately none of the content is in English.
Orie Moses (2 years ago)
So I'm Jewish and from Israel too. I gather by meeting other tourists that we all think it's heart warming to see the people you are affiliated with in such a place together abroad as a place of gathering, for strangers from different lands. But the synagogue rich as it may be in history and culture, doesn't have as much dignity as the churches do (oh boy do the churches look astonishing). The synagogue seemed underwhelming, also the video and representation of judaism seemed so 'back in the day' and not what modern day Judaism looks like. Bought something from there (mini sword- you'll understand if you go there) make sure to keep your receipt. Otherwise the gift will be confiscated in the train station :/
So I'm Jewish and from Israel too. I gather by meeting other tourists that we all think it's heart warming to see the people you are affiliated with in such a place together abroad as a place of gathering, for strangers from different lands. But the synagogue rich as it may be in history and culture, doesn't have as much dignity as the churches do (oh boy do the churches look astonishing). The synagogue seemed underwhelming, also the video and representation of judaism seemed so 'back in the day' and not what modern day Judaism looks like. Bought something from there (mini sword- you'll understand if you go there) make sure to keep your receipt. Otherwise the gift will be confiscated in the train station :/
Vlad Sinayuk (2 years ago)
Our day trip to Toledo culminated with a visit to the Tránsito Synagogue from the 6th century, built with dimensions proportional to the Second Temple. The wooden ceiling is comprised of Lebanese cedar, and is original. It is supposedly a replica of the ceiling of the Second Temple, as specified by Simon HaLevi at the time. This is by far for the oldest and most intact Sefardí synagogue, and it survived the Inquisition, the Holocaust of the time beginning in the late 15th century, due to HaLevi’s political influence. The small but informative Museo Sefardí is housed in the museum complex, and worth a slow walk through. Don’t miss the memorial garden with recovered Jewish tombstones that have been used for house construction in Toledo after the inquisition.
Our day trip to Toledo culminated with a visit to the Tránsito Synagogue from the 6th century, built with dimensions proportional to the Second Temple. The wooden ceiling is comprised of Lebanese cedar, and is original. It is supposedly a replica of the ceiling of the Second Temple, as specified by Simon HaLevi at the time. This is by far for the oldest and most intact Sefardí synagogue, and it survived the Inquisition, the Holocaust of the time beginning in the late 15th century, due to HaLevi’s political influence. The small but informative Museo Sefardí is housed in the museum complex, and worth a slow walk through. Don’t miss the memorial garden with recovered Jewish tombstones that have been used for house construction in Toledo after the inquisition.
