Dario Disegni was chosen for a new term as president of the Foundation for Jewish Cultural Heritage in Italy – FBCEI by the foundation’s new board of directors, installed last week in Rome. He will be joined by two vice presidents: Andreina Draghi and Renzo Funaro. The board also includes Giorgio Segr\u00e9 and Andrea Morpurgo. The meeting commenced with a welcome address from UCEI President Noemi Di Segni. “A new term begins with a focus on planning,\u201d Disegni, who also serves as president of the Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah \u2013 MEIS in Ferrara and the Jewish Community of Turin, explained at the end of the meeting. \u201cIn addition to fulfilling ongoing multi-year commitments, we will tackle new challenges to enhance Jewish heritage throughout Italy, from north to south. We aim to offer a wider range of services, also to Jewish communities.\u201d
\nThere are many fronts open, with partners such as the National Central Library that soon will make available \u201ca web area dedicated to the digitization of Jewish incunabula.\u201d Investments will also be made in publishing. Among the upcoming initiatives is a guide to ten key Jewish sites, created in collaboration with the Italian Touring Club. \u201cIt should be released at the end of next summer and will be presented at the next European Day of Jewish Culture.\u201d This is another event \u201cwhich we are preparing for,\u201d emphasized Disegni, who will also do the honors since Turin is the lead city for this edition.
\nMeanwhile, the census of the liturgical musical sources of Italian Judaism initiated in recent months is continuing. Among the contributors is musicologist Massimo Acanfora Torrefranca, a newcomer to the FBCEI board, which also includes Gabriele Aj\u00f2, Gloria Arbib, Anna Di Castro, Vincenza Maugeri and Valeria Rainoldi. Former board members Alberto Di Castro and Annie Sacerdoti will also regularly participate on the board as observers and liaisons for ongoing projects.
\nAs for the protection of architectural heritage, work is ongoing on the restoration of Gorizia’s Jewish cemetery, the final resting place of notable figures such as philosopher Carlo Michelstaedter, glottologist Graziadio Isaia Ascoli and journalist Carolina Luzzatto Coen.
\nAttention will also be given to individual Jewish Communities. At a State-CEI meeting held at the Ministry of Culture \u201cpaths were identified that will give the possibility of obtaining even more significant funding for the restoration of movable and immovable property, through the detailed definition of agreements with local superintendencies.\u201d In this direction, Disegni added, \u201cthe architects on the FBCEI council will be offering their expertise to the Communities to help them better structure their projects. This presents a significant opportunity for Italian Jewry, particularly for medium and small communities.\u201d
\nThe Foundation will soon finalize guidelines \u201cfor interventions in cemetery areas. These guidelines will ensure compliance with Jewish prescriptions and be approved by the Italian rabbinate. We expect the final text to be completed within the next few weeks or months.\u201d
\n\u201cThis is the first national pre-census of community Jewish institutions to assess their needs for recovering and preserving Jewish cultural heritage,\u201d remarked newly appointed vice-president Renzo Funaro. The survey, initiated by the Foundation and followed by Funaro himself, revealed that projects requests across various areas currently exceed nine million euros. Funaro is currently overseeing several projects, including the enhancement of the Venosa catacombs, the restoration of synagogues in Siena and Florence, the relocation of the portal of the Monumental Temple in Livorno to its new location in front of the 20th-century synagogue, and, in collaboration with architect Andrea Morpurgo, the restoration of the Valdirose cemetery in Gorizia.<\/p>\n
Photo: the new FBCEI Executive Committee<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"