NEWS ‘Diaspora’ Selected as the Main Theme of the 2017 European Day of Jewish Culture

By Daniel Reichel

“Diaspora” is the theme chosen for the next edition of the European Day of Jewish Culture.

On Sunday, September 3, 2017, the 21 Italian Jewish Communities will take part in the celebration as they have always done. The event will offer concerts, lectures and performances, as well as the opportunity to reflect upon the what it means for Italian and European Jewry to live in the Diaspora.

As the official website of the European Days of Jewish Culture explains, “The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tfutza, תְּפוּצָה) or Exile (Hebrew: Galut, גָּלוּת; Yiddish: Golus) refers to the dispersion of Israelites, Judahites, and later Jews out of their ancestral homeland (the Land of Israel) and their subsequent settlement in other parts of the globe. Although the term refers to the physical dispersal of Jews throughout the world, it also carries religious, philosophical, political, and eschatological connotations, inasmuch as the Jews perceive a special relationship between the land of Israel and themselves.” Those will be some of the issues that will be explored also in Italy on the next September 3.

“The European Day of Jewish Culture represents an important opportunity of encounter between Italian Jews and their fellow citizens”, explained president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities Noemi Di Segni, last year. “It is a precious occasion to explore all the different nuances and dimensions of the rich Jewish identity and to bring thousands of people closer to the topics that are dear to the heart of the Jewish minority, being among the most ancient minorities in Italy.”