![](http://moked.it/unione_informa/strutturanl/unioneInforma.jpg) |
Beppe Grillo’s Words Offend all of
Italy
|
![](http://moked.it/files/2013/07/gattegna.jpg)
by Renzo Gattegna*
"Beppe Grillo’s decision to publish on his blog a retouched picture of
the notorious image of the gates of Auschwitz, together with an adapted
version of Primo Levi's poem on the Holocaust Se questo è un uomo (If
this is a man) represents his last vile provocation.
These words tickle dishonorable anti-Semitic sentiments and ride the
popular discontent that is growing in these times of crisis. They are
an obscenity against which we cannot remain silent, representing a
criminal desecration of the value of the memory of millions of innocent
victims that offends all of Italy".
*Renzo Gattegna is
the
President of the Union of the
Italian Jewish Communities
|
|
![](http://moked.it/unione_informa/140402/parola.png) |
Italian Word of the Week:
SCHOLA/TEMPIO
|
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 of the world (no exageration). For this reason they are the
destination of many tourist routes in Roma, Firenze, Torino or Trieste.
In these cities the Tempio dates from the late nineteenth and early
twentieth century and it is monumental. But in some places, as Venice,
where there are some of the most famous Italian Synagogues, visitors at
the beginning are surprised.
In fact, from the outside the Venetian Schole (plural of Schola: name
that in vulgar Latin indicated a gathering place; in Italian the word
“scuola” indicates the school) look exactly like any building around.
That aspect reminds us how, until the XIX century the Synagogues in
Europe were often hidden to the eyes of a hostile population through an
humble aspect. The modest appearance, however, is limited to the
exteriors: When you get in, you find splendid decorations and refined
ritual objects.
The Synagogues are the most visible legacy of the glorious history of
Italian Jews and represent now a big challenge for the Communities,
called to preserve and enhance that important heritage.
But every
Italian Jew, also if secular, loves his Schola and is really proud of
it.
|
|
|
|
it
happened tomorrow
Thank
You, Mr. Grillo
![](http://moked.it/international/files/2014/04/vitale.jpg)
by Guido Vitale
When Italian Jewry speaks with one voice, we are heard loud and clear
and even a populist leader, like comedian Beppe Grillo, fails to make
people laugh.
Faced with our complaints about his anti-Semitic ravings, the artist
was left with no arguments. All he could muster were insults and
incoherent babbling.
And in conclusion he confronted Italian Jews with a threat: "You must
change your press office". We would like to give him our heartfelt
thanks. The value of our work at the press office of the Union of
Italian Jewish Communities could have received no more convincing
recognition.
|
“Dialogue,
New Challenges
We Must Be Ready to Take up” |
![](http://moked.it/international/files/2014/04/rosen.png)
by David Rosen*
Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni's article entitled " The Limits of Dialogue and
a Symphony that Sounds Wrong" in which he criticises the symphonic
tribute to the memory of the Jewish victims of the Shoah by the
Catholic organization "The Neocathechumenal Way" - in particular
the concert of homage in Auschwitz, and implicitly the rabbis who
attended this event and in particular myself; was brought to my
attention the first time it was published by Moked – Pagine Ebraiche -
in Italian. Despite the fact that I considered the article to be an
unfair misrepresentation, I did not feel that I should reply to it
publicly in case this be mistaken as some personal conflict between
Rabbi Di Segni and myself. Indeed even when his article was republished
in English, I felt that I should wait until I met with Rabbi Di Segni
face to face and explain directly my strong reservations regarding his
comments and approach. This meeting took place in his office a month
and a half ago, where I sought to clarify the events and my position
and I mentioned that I had not wanted to contradict him publicly. Rabbi
Di Segni told me that on the contrary, if we had a sincere difference
of opinion (I had termed it a "makhloket lshem shamayim", a sincere
argument for the sake of Heaven), then he would welcome my public
comment. I was nevertheless surprised to see that his article has been
reissued again by the Moked International website and therefore in
light of Rabbi Di Segni's own encouragement to me, I have requested
this "right of reply".
*Rabbi David Rosen is
the American Jewish Committee’s International Director of
Interreligious Affairs.
Read
more
|
|
|
Follow
us on ![TWITTER](http://moked.it/unione_informa/strutturanl/tw_ico.jpg)
This newsletter is published under difficult conditions. The editors of
this newsletter are Italian journalists whose native language is
Italian. They are willing to offer their energy and their skills to
give international readers the opportunity of learning more about the
Italian Jewish world, its values, its culture and its traditions.
In spite of all our efforts to avoid this, readers may find the
occasional grammatical mistake. We count on your understanding and on
your help and advice to correct these mistakes and improve our
publication.
Pagine Ebraiche International Edition is published by the Union of
Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI). UCEI publications encourage the
understanding of the Jewish world and the debates within it. The
articles and opinions published by Pagine Ebraiche International
Edition, unless expressly stated otherwise, cannot be interpreted as
the official position of UCEI, but only as the self-expression of the
people who sign them, offering their comments to UCEI publications.
Readers who are interested in making their own contribution should
email us at desk@ucei.it
You received this newsletter because you authorized UCEI to contact
you. If you would like to remove your email address from our list, or
if you would like to subscribe using a new email address, please send a
blank email to desk@ucei.it
stating "unsubscribe" or "subscribe" in the subject field.
© UCEI - All rights reserved - The articles may only be reproduced
after obtaining the written permission of the editor-in-chief. Pagine
Ebraiche - Reg Rome Court 199/2009 – Editor in Chief: Guido Vitale -
Managing Editor: Daniela Gross.
Special thanks to: Susanna Barki, Monica Bizzio, Rachel Briks,
Benedetta Guetta, Francesca Matalon,
Giovanni Montenero, Lisa Palmieri-Billig, Giandomenico Pozzi, Daniel Reichel,
Sharon Reichel, Rabbi David Rosen, Adam
Smulevich, Simone Somekh,
Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves.
Questo notiziario è realizzato in
condizioni di particolare difficoltà. I redattori di questo notiziario
sono giornalisti italiani di madrelingua italiana. Mettono a
disposizione le loro energie e le loro competenze per raccontare in
lingua inglese l'ebraismo italiano, i suoi valori, la sua cultura e i
suoi valori. Nonostante il nostro impegno il lettore potrebbe trovare
errori e imperfezioni nell'utilizzo del linguaggio che faremo del
nostro meglio per evitare. Contiamo sulla vostra comprensione e
soprattutto sul vostro aiuto e sul vostro consiglio per correggere gli
errori e migliorare.
Pagine Ebraiche International Edition è una pubblicazione edita
dall'Unione delle Comunità Ebraiche Italiane. L'UCEI sviluppa mezzi di
comunicazione che incoraggiano la conoscenza e il confronto delle
realtà ebraiche. Gli articoli e i commenti pubblicati, a meno che non
sia espressamente indicato il contrario, non possono essere intesi come
una presa di posizione ufficiale, ma solo come la autonoma espressione
delle persone che li firmano e che si sono rese gratuitamente
disponibili. Gli utenti che fossero interessati a offrire un proprio
contributo possono rivolgersi all'indirizzo desk@ucei.it
Avete ricevuto questo messaggio perché avete trasmesso a Ucei
l'autorizzazione a comunicare con voi. Se non desiderate ricevere
ulteriori comunicazioni o se volete comunicare un nuovo indirizzo
email, scrivete a: desk@ucei.it
indicando nell'oggetto del messaggio "cancella" o "modifica".
© UCEI - Tutti i diritti riservati - I testi possono essere riprodotti
solo dopo aver ottenuto l'autorizzazione scritta della Direzione.
Pagine Ebraiche International Edition - notiziario dell'ebraismo
italiano - Reg. Tribunale di Roma 199/2009 - direttore responsabile:
Guido Vitale - Coordinamento: Daniela Gross.
Realizzato con il contributo di: Susanna Barki,
Monica Bizzio, Rachel Briks,
Benedetta Guetta, Francesca Matalon,
Giovanni Montenero, Lisa Palmieri-Billig, Giandomenico
Pozzi, Daniel Reichel, Sharon Reichel, rav
David Rosen, Adam
Smulevich, Simone Somekh,
Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves.
|