The Federation of Jewish Cultural Associations (F.A.C.E.), active from 1924 to 1937, promoted the creation of a photographic collection documenting Italian Jewish cultural heritage. This project also helped foster a sense of shared identity among Jewish communities. Today, the collection includes about 450 photographs gathered in seven albums and preserved at the National Library of Italian Judaism “Tullia Zevi” in Rome. The importance of this collection, and its future, were among the topics discussed at the conference “Defending and Spreading Our Culture” that was held on June 16 at the library’s headquarters. The Foundation for Jewish Cultural Heritage in Italy (FBCEI) organized the event together with the National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah in Ferrara (MEIS) and the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI).
“Culture is a tool for identity, dialogue, and the transmission of memory,” said Dario Disegni, president of the FBCEI. Disegni described the images as an “iconographic heritage of exceptional value” that deepens our understanding of the years immediately preceding state-sponsored anti-Semitic persecution in Italy.
One result of the work on the F.A.C.E. archive is the exhibition “Journey Through Italy: Discovering Jewish Cultural Heritage.” Curated by Valeria Rainoldi and Sharon Reichel, the exhibition is currently on display at the MEIS, recalled the museum’s president, Guido Ottolenghi. The exhibition’s success has led to an extension of its closing date, which was originally set for mid-June. “We Italian Jews want to affirm our presence, also through culture,” said Ruben Della Rocca, UCEI councilor for memory. “The Israeli writer Eshkol Nevo is only the latest victim of an antisemitic storm. However, we are convinced that most people want to get to know us.”
A model of identity building
Germano Maifreda (University of Milan) placed F.A.C.E. within the history of Italian Jewry in the early 20th century between ferments of emancipation and new identity models, in light of the apparent full integration of Italian Jews into the society of the time. According to the scholar, F.A.C.E. “represented the most comprehensive attempt made by Italian Jewry to organize a collective sense of belonging based on culture and historical memory.” Maifreda explained that F.A.C.E. should be seen as “a tool for building identity.” Its activities were aimed “at promoting a deeper knowledge of Jewish art and of the Hebrew language.” At the same time, it worked to strengthen a cultural community through a network of associations, exhibitions, campaigns, and educational activities.
Art historian Andreina Draghi then examined the archive in the context of the 1920s and 1930s. She focused in particular on the correspondence (1883–1963) with the artist Abel Pann, who is also known for his “Bible in Pictures.” She also highlighted the vibrant cultural life of Livorno during that period. F.A.C.E. was in fact established during the Jewish Cultural Congress held in Livorno in 1924, which had great relevance in the way Italian Jewry reflected on its own identity. Draghi also recalled the history of the “Bottega d’Arte” art gallery, founded in 1922 by Gino Belforte. The gallery quickly became one of the most important in Italy. She also highlighted the role played by Guido Bedarida, a native of Livorno, in the creation and development of the foundation.
Recovery and Preservation of the Collection
“Preserving archives means protecting them, but also passing on memory,” said archivist Keren Perugia. She presented the work that was done to recover, preserve, and enhance the collection. The material is now stored in a repository with a specially designed ventilation system to prevent deterioration. “Disappeared monuments, disappeared communities: It is important that this documentation is consulted and made known,” Perugia stressed. She added that the project is still ongoing. One of the next steps is preparing an index containing names, places, and institutions.
Adam Smulevich
Translated by Elizabeth El Khoury and revised by Caterina Mansani, students at the Advanced School for Interpreters and Translators of the University of Trieste, trainees in the newsroom of the Union of the Italian Jewish Communities – Pagine Ebraiche.