By Daniela Gross One word, many meanings. It is not easy to translate the term “giusto”. You could use “just, exact, right, correct, fair, equitable, righteous” and so on. But only the context can indicate the right significance (better, the proper nuance) and then the appropriate translation. In fact, the adjective “giusto” can be attributed …
By Daniela Gross The word “zucchetto” is the diminutive of “gourd, pumpkin”, in Italian “zucca”, term that figuratively and playfully can indicate the head. The “zucchetto” is the small round skullcap worn by Roman Catholic ecclesiastic: even if you’ve ever heard about it, probably you noticed it during the recent visit of Pope Francis in …
By Daniela Gross Unfortunately “antisemitismo”, so similar to the English term “anti-Semitism”, is still a very alive word and, what is worse, a current mental habit: in Italy as in the rest of Europe. According to a recent survey commissioned by Anti-Defamation League about the attitudes toward Jews around the world, 20% of Italians hold …
By Daniela Gross “Memoria”, the word of this week, is so similar to the English “memory” that a translation may even sound useless. To have memory is, in the short term, to recall who we are, what are we doing, where and when. In the long term, it means being able to store data, things …
By Daniela Gross Italkìm is the plural of Italki, wich means Italian, and it is among the Hebrew words more used in the Italian Jewry because currently indicates the Italian Jewish community in Israel. The bond between the Italian Jews and the Italkìm is close and full of affection. Only three hours of flight separates …
By Daniela Gross In Italian the word “dialogo”, as you easily can guess, means “dialogue”. However, to really understand what it means for the Italian Jewry you should add the word “interreligioso – interfaith”. The dialogue among the religions is a good practice at every latitude, but in Italy it implies to deal with the …
By Daniela Gross The word “ghetto” is so familiar for an Italian Jew. Since your childhood you know what the ghetto is, where it is and often you grow up playing in the maze of its narrow streets. The term is related to the Ghetto of Venice, the first one instituted in Europe in 1516. …
By Daniela Gross In Italy people often refer to the internet as “la rete” (literally, the network) and for the Italian Jewry the web has been really important. If you are in Rome or Milan, where the 70 per cent of Italian Jews are in fact concentrated, maybe the problem is not as big. But …
by Daniela Gross In Italian the word “libro” designates a book (in the plural becomes “libri”). But in Italy to talk about book and books is a tricky question. Italy boasts a prestigious literary heritage, but the current situation is horrible. The latest report of Istat, the National Institute of Statistics, says that only 26 …
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 …
by Daniela Gross “I’m going to the Comunità”. It’s a daily expression for every Italian Jew. In Italy the “Comunità” (Community) is the core of Jewish life, the institution that brings everyone together. It provides all the necessary services – synagogue, education, kosher food, social and ritual services – and it represents roots, tradition, sense …