 |
| Beppe Grillo’s Words Offend all of
Italy |
 by Renzo Gattegna* "Beppe Grillo’s decision to publish on his blog a retouched picture of the notorious image of the gates of Auschwitz, together with an adapted version of Primo Levi's poem on the Holocaust Se questo è un uomo (If this is a man) represents his last vile provocation. These words tickle dishonorable anti-Semitic sentiments and ride the popular discontent that is growing in these times of crisis. They are an obscenity against which we cannot remain silent, representing a criminal desecration of the value of the memory of millions of innocent victims that offends all of Italy". *Renzo Gattegna is the President of the Union of the Italian Jewish Communities |
 |
| Italian Word of the Week: SCHOLA/TEMPIO |
| by Daniela
Gross In some Italian Communities it’s called “Schola”. In other Communities people generally refer to it as “Tempio”. But although the names may vary, we always talk about the same thing: the Synagogue, the heart of the Jewish life in every Italian Community. The Italian Synagogues are magnificent, perhaps among the most wonderful of the world (no exageration). For this reason they are the destination of many tourist routes in Roma, Firenze, Torino or Trieste. In these cities the Tempio dates from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and it is monumental. But in some places, as Venice, where there are some of the most famous Italian Synagogues, visitors at the beginning are surprised. In fact, from the outside the Venetian Schole (plural of Schola: name that in vulgar Latin indicated a gathering place; in Italian the word “scuola” indicates the school) look exactly like any building around. That aspect reminds us how, until the XIX century the Synagogues in Europe were often hidden to the eyes of a hostile population through an humble aspect. The modest appearance, however, is limited to the exteriors: When you get in, you find splendid decorations and refined ritual objects. The Synagogues are the most visible legacy of the glorious history of Italian Jews and represent now a big challenge for the Communities, called to preserve and enhance that important heritage. But every Italian Jew, also if secular, loves his Schola and is really proud of it. |
| it
happened tomorrow Thank You, Mr. Grillo  by Guido Vitale When Italian Jewry speaks with one voice, we are heard loud and clear and even a populist leader, like comedian Beppe Grillo, fails to make people laugh. Faced with our complaints about his anti-Semitic ravings, the artist was left with no arguments. All he could muster were insults and incoherent babbling. And in conclusion he confronted Italian Jews with a threat: "You must change your press office". We would like to give him our heartfelt thanks. The value of our work at the press office of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities could have received no more convincing recognition. |
This newsletter is published under difficult conditions. The editors of this newsletter are Italian journalists whose native language is Italian. They are willing to offer their energy and their skills to give international readers the opportunity of learning more about the Italian Jewish world, its values, its culture and its traditions.
In spite of all our efforts to avoid this, readers may find the occasional grammatical mistake. We count on your understanding and on your help and advice to correct these mistakes and improve our publication.
Pagine Ebraiche International Edition is published by the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI). UCEI publications encourage the understanding of the Jewish world and the debates within it. The articles and opinions published by Pagine Ebraiche International Edition, unless expressly stated otherwise, cannot be interpreted as the official position of UCEI, but only as the self-expression of the people who sign them, offering their comments to UCEI publications. Readers who are interested in making their own contribution should email us at desk@ucei.it
You received this newsletter because you authorized UCEI to contact you. If you would like to remove your email address from our list, or if you would like to subscribe using a new email address, please send a blank email to desk@ucei.it stating "unsubscribe" or "subscribe" in the subject field.
© UCEI - All rights reserved - The articles may only be reproduced after obtaining the written permission of the editor-in-chief. Pagine Ebraiche - Reg Rome Court 199/2009 – Editor in Chief: Guido Vitale - Managing Editor: Daniela Gross.
Special thanks to: Susanna Barki, Monica Bizzio, Rachel Briks, Benedetta Guetta, Francesca Matalon, Giovanni Montenero, Lisa Palmieri-Billig, Giandomenico Pozzi, Daniel Reichel, Sharon Reichel, Rabbi David Rosen, Adam Smulevich, Simone Somekh, Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves.
Questo notiziario è realizzato in condizioni di particolare difficoltà. I redattori di questo notiziario sono giornalisti italiani di madrelingua italiana. Mettono a disposizione le loro energie e le loro competenze per raccontare in lingua inglese l'ebraismo italiano, i suoi valori, la sua cultura e i suoi valori. Nonostante il nostro impegno il lettore potrebbe trovare errori e imperfezioni nell'utilizzo del linguaggio che faremo del nostro meglio per evitare. Contiamo sulla vostra comprensione e soprattutto sul vostro aiuto e sul vostro consiglio per correggere gli errori e migliorare.
Pagine Ebraiche International Edition è una pubblicazione edita dall'Unione delle Comunità Ebraiche Italiane. L'UCEI sviluppa mezzi di comunicazione che incoraggiano la conoscenza e il confronto delle realtà ebraiche. Gli articoli e i commenti pubblicati, a meno che non sia espressamente indicato il contrario, non possono essere intesi come una presa di posizione ufficiale, ma solo come la autonoma espressione delle persone che li firmano e che si sono rese gratuitamente disponibili. Gli utenti che fossero interessati a offrire un proprio contributo possono rivolgersi all'indirizzo desk@ucei.it
Avete ricevuto questo messaggio perché avete trasmesso a Ucei l'autorizzazione a comunicare con voi. Se non desiderate ricevere ulteriori comunicazioni o se volete comunicare un nuovo indirizzo email, scrivete a: desk@ucei.it indicando nell'oggetto del messaggio "cancella" o "modifica".
© UCEI - Tutti i diritti riservati - I testi possono essere riprodotti solo dopo aver ottenuto l'autorizzazione scritta della Direzione. Pagine Ebraiche International Edition - notiziario dell'ebraismo italiano - Reg. Tribunale di Roma 199/2009 - direttore responsabile: Guido Vitale - Coordinamento: Daniela Gross.
Realizzato con il contributo di: Susanna Barki, Monica Bizzio, Rachel Briks, Benedetta Guetta, Francesca Matalon, Giovanni Montenero, Lisa Palmieri-Billig, Giandomenico Pozzi, Daniel Reichel, Sharon Reichel, rav David Rosen, Adam Smulevich, Simone Somekh, Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves.