By Dan Amouyal* Genoese Jewish history is a remarkable and unique part of Jewish history. Genoa (or Genova, in Italian) is home to one of the oldest Italian Jewish communities. The first extent records of Genoese Jews are two letters by Theoderic the Great (454-526 C.E.), king of the Ostrogoths and ruler of Italy, which …
By Nebiyat Tadesse* Aside from Florence’s well known artistic patrimony, one of the most interesting facts about this famed city is that it is home to about 950 Jews, the third largest Jewish community in Italy. The rich history of Florentine Jews is characterized by rapid change, struggle and resilience. The Jewish community of Florence …
By Giulia Nicolai* Jewish history is not a mere sub-field, but an indispensible aspect of European history, and this traveling exhibition recognizes their role. From February 27th to March 29th, 2018, one hundred years after the end of the First World War, the “Carlo and Vera Wagner” Jewish Museum of Trieste featured the exhibition: “Austro-Hungarian …
Pagine Ebraiche staff El maratón que se corre cada mes de marzo y que cuenta ya con una participación vastísima (también de Italia) ha consagrado la ciudad de Jerusalén como importante destino deportivo. Sin embargo, un evento como el Giro de Italia aún no se había visto en Jerusalén. “Nuestro mensaje resulta muy claro: esta …
By Emily O’Mahoney* “Siamo liberi!” Throughout history, Jews have spoken those words at various times: “We are free!” Undoubtedly, it has not been easy for the small minority, which often becomes the scapegoat for others. The year 1848 brought a ray of hope to the Jewish minority of the Kingdom of Sardinia, which corresponds to …
By Pagine Ebraiche staff Gino Bartali will be given honorary posthumous Israeli citizenship during a ceremony at Yad Vashem on Wednesday May 2, 2018. The legendary Florentine cyclist won the Giro d’Italia three times and the Tour de France twice and was recognized as a “Righteous among the Nations” in 2013 for his efforts in …
By Adam Smulevich The Israel Cycling Academy, the first Israeli professional cycling team to participate in a Giro d’Italia continues to amaze. After distinguishing itself at the Tirreno – Adriatico, an elite cycle race in Italy between the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic coasts, the Academy played a leading role in the legendary Milano – Sanremo race. …
By Julie Carbonara* Studying the past doesn’t exclude being fully involved in the present, as the life of Luisella Ottolenghi Mortara, who has died aged 87, demonstrated. An art historian who specialised in illuminated manuscripts, Ottolenghi Mortara is credited with almost single-handedly reviving interest in the wonderful illuminations featured in many Jewish biblical manuscripts from …
Branka Bezjak* Andree Morpurga tudi po 30 letih še ni minila strast do poizvedovanja o svojih in koreninah prednikov. Kakor že njegov priimek pove, je namreč daljni potomec mariborskih Judov. Ko so se morali ti po odloku Maksimilijana I. leta 1496 izseliti iz mesta, so pozneje prevzeli priimek Marpurg(er)/Marburg(er), kar je v dobesednem pomenu “iz …
A castle for the people of Europe, a park for diversity and cultural wealth. And the dream that investments on culture will bring development and progress. The project for Miramare has been launched and it will determine the future of this extraordinary area between the Adriatic Sea and the Karst, between East and West, in …
By Gadi Luzzatto Voghera* For decades, Mein Kampf was just the title of a book briefly mentioned in high school classes. Then last year Bompiani published an anastatic reissue, coming with an issue of Il Giornale, the newspaper owned by Silvio Berlusconi, and including a preface by historian Francesco Perfetti. A decision that sparked off …
By Adam Smulevich At a meeting at the Vatican, Sylvan Adams, the Honorary President of ‘Big Start Israel,’ invited Pope Francis to launch the start of the Giro d’Italia 2018, which will begin in May with the three opening stages in Israel (the first one, in Jerusalem). The news was announced on our website www.moked.it, …
By Guido Vitale A castle for the people of Europe, a park for diversity and cultural wealth to blossom. And the dream that investments on culture and creativity will bring prosperity, development and progress for the new generations too. Miramare Castle was built for Archduke Maximilian at the gates of Trieste, nestled between the Adriatic …
By Pagine Ebraiche Staff It was the first form of protection of women in Judaism, which gives a central role to the union between husband and wife (“It is not good that the man should be alone,” it says in Genesis). But it is also a different way, a more original perspective to look at …
By Alberto Moshe Somekh* If we consider the holidays of the month of Tishrei on the whole, we notice that they are comprised between two beginnings. The first holiday, Rosh Hashanah (New Year), marks the beginning of a new year on the calendar, with all the hopes and expectations that every new start brings with …
By Pagine Ebraiche staff Portico d’Ottavia, the heart of Jewish life in Rome and the main square of the ancient ghetto is going to undergo refurbishment. Among other things, the flooring, made of traditional “sanpietrini” (little square blocks), will be completely renovated. The project is the first initiative of the newly founded Portico d’Ottavia Association. …
By Adam Smulevich For the time being, around seventy schools from almost all regions of Italy except for Liguria have welcomed the initiative. But this number is constantly increasing, as well as the requests for the dedication of schools. In a country where issues such as illiteracy, digital unawareness and widespread lack of education keeps …
By Daniele Ienna* Asisa is a woman from Trapani (Sicily). She is Samuele Sala’s wife, who is actually one of the richest bankers of Sicily. Her husband converts in 1492, but she doesn’t. She refuses to become a Christian and she decides to leave the island with her son Sadone, who is 11, even if …
By Adam Smulevich In an exclusive Interview with Pagine Ebraiche the President of the Italian Football Federation Carlo Tavecchio described as an “unhappy incident” the episode of 2015 that saw him using the Italian term ‘ebreaccio’, a pejorative for ‘ebreo’ (Jew), to call a Jewish-Italian businessman. Back then, his words had aroused disdain and …
By Pagine Ebraiche Staff On May 17, the Giro d’Italia, the Italian major cycling event will depart from Ponte a Ema, the hometown and birthplace of one of the greatest cyclists of twentieth century: Gino Bartali (1914-2000). The Italian race will pay a special homage to the legendary champion, who saved hundreds of Jews during …