“The left was born to defend the right of any people to self-determination.” This is the message launched by former Italian parliamentarian Emanuele Fiano, president of the association Sinistra per Israele – Due Popoli Due Stati (Left for Israel – Two Peoples for Two States). Speaking at an event at the European parliamentary seat in …
As reports of aggressive anti-Israel incidents in Europe become increasingly frequent, the violent assault of a professor by pro-Palestinian protesters during class at the University of Pisa has sparked a fierce debate in Italy. Rino Casella, a comparative constitutional law professor, told Italian media that he was accused of being a Zionist “only because he …
“You will build the edifice of the world, raise the horns of wisdom, and produce books through printing.” With these words addressed to his son, Jewish printer Israel Nathan celebrated the publishing company that would bring him fame and recognition. On September 14, Israel Nathan’s historic undertaking will be discussed as part of the “ExLibris …
Some may never have heard of Soncino, a small medieval town in the province of Cremona (Lombardy), which is the lead city for the European Day of Jewish Culture in Italy this year. However, bibliophiles must have been intrigued by the announcement. After all, the Jewish surname Soncino comes from this town, where some of …
When the theme “The People of the Book” was announced for the 2025 European Day of Jewish Culture, my first thought was: “This is for us.” After a sleepless night, I submitted an application to host the event at the Museum of Printing in Soncino. Soncino began rediscovering its printing heritage in the 1970s. The …
The European Day of Jewish Culture will kick off in Italy on September 14 in Soncino, a city in the Lombardy province of Cremona. The theme of this year’s event is “The People of the Book,” and Soncino, where the first Hebrew Bible with vocalizations was printed in 1488, will serve as the flagship city. …
As Ecclesiastes teaches, there is a time for everything under the sun. For Sarah Kaminski and Maria Teresa Milano, that time is now. They write, “It is marked by the desire to tell the story of a small part of the world we have walked through together these past years, with a passion for research …
A few days ago, Italian filmmaker Ruggero Gabbai went to Gradara in the Marche region. There, he presented his documentary Liliana, which recounts the experience of Holocaust survivor and Senator for Life Liliana Segre. However, at Q&A time, few questions from the audience were related to the film. Instead, they focused on the situation in …
“Let us meet immediately, at least in Italy, as bishops, rabbis, and imams. A simple, direct meeting, neither conventional nor confessional, to testify to our common responsibility. A responsibility to share the authentic message of peace, hope, charity, brotherhood and justice of Abraham’s descendants.” This is the message of the Appeal to Italian Institutions, citizens …
On September 14, over a hundred Italian locations will participate in the European Day of Jewish Culture by hosting meetings and initiatives. This 26th edition’s focus is “The People of the Book,” and Soncino, a city in the Lombardy province of Cremona, is the flagship city. The Soncino family, of Ashkenazi origin, printed the first Hebrew Bible …
In June of 1993, Goti Bauer wrote a few lines in one of her diaries in preparation for her testimony. “I am one of the very few survivors of Auschwitz. Almost fifty years have passed, and sadly, our number is decreasing quickly,” she began. “Now, maybe more than ever, each of us feels the urgency …
Representatives of various religious confessions, including the president of Turin’s Jewish Community and Chief Rabbi Ariel Finzi, established a “Table of Hope” in Turin with representatives of the Christian and Islamic communities. The goal is to promote dialogue, as “now only the reaffirmation of one’s own stance seems to prevail,” and to “invoke an end …
On Tisha B’Av, one of the most solemn fast days in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, a group of Roman Jews visited the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, near Anzio. As per tradition, they honored Melton Mednick, a young Jewish American soldier who fell in Italy on …
Giving visibility to the Jewish heritage of Emilia-Romagna. Promoting its knowledge. Building connections between places, institutions, and people. These are the goals of the new portal, www.beniebraiciemiliaromagna.it The Emilia-Romagna Region promoted and the Bologna Jewish Museum coordinated the project that aims at preserving memory and valorizing contemporary Jewish cultural heritage. The platform offers descriptions of …
“Let the weapons and military operations in Gaza, as well as the launching of missiles against Israel, cease. Let the hostages be released and their bodies returned. Let the hungry be fed, and let the injured be cared for. Allow humanitarian corridors. Stop the occupation of lands meant for others. Let us return to dialogue, …
Dario Calimani, 79, has been elected president of Venice’s Jewish Community for a second term. “I accept this role at a delicate political moment, and we will do our best to overcome this difficulty,” he said. A scholar of English literature, Calimani will oversee Security and the Jewish Museum. The relaunch of the museum is …
The National Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah (MEIS) in Ferrara has extended until July 20 the exhibition Beautiful Esther. Purim, a timeless story, which explores this festival’s rituals, arts and cultural interpretations. The show, curated by the director of the Museum, Rabbi Amedeo Spagnoletto, Olga Melasecchi and Marina Caffiero, opened on March 12 and has been very successful, attracting many …
It was a week of studies, but also a unique opportunity for different generations to share their knowledge and research. From June 30 to July 4, the Settimana di Studi Internazionali sull’Ebraismo Italiano (Week of International Studies on Italian Judaism) took place. The event was promoted by the CDEC Foundation of Milan, in collaboration with …
Victor Fadlun has officially been appointed president of Rome’s Jewish Community. In the recent elections, his list, “Dor Va Dor,” received 58.42% of the vote, surpassing “Lev Echad,” led by Joseph Di Porto, which received 28.36%, and “Ha Bait,” led by Noemi Di Segni, which received 13.22%. During his second mandate, Fadlun, an entrepreneur, will …
The aftermath of the October 7 attacks, the ensuing war against Hamas, and the wave of antisemitism deeply wounded Italian Jewry’s collective consciousness. The future is full of challenges and questions as an important institutional phase comes to a close. On July 6, the Council of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) convened in …