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The Creation of Meaning
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by Guido Vitale*
A film about the Nazi massacres against civilian population in Italy -
specifically about the slaughter of hundreds of women, children and
elders in Sant'Anna di Stazzema in 1944 - has raised much interest
during the sixty-seventh edition of the Locarno Film Festival, held
this last August.
It is perhaps not by chance that this new film by Simone Rapisarda
Casanova, “The creation of meaning”, was made by an Italian film
director resident in Canada. Italians living abroad often remember with
more clarity than those living in Italy the funding values of the
Italian Republic and of democracy.
*Guido Vitale is
the editor-in-chief of Pagine Ebraiche.
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Italian Word of the Week:
DIASPORA
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by Daniela
Gross
Let’s be clear. If you ask Italians what a “fiorino” is, most of them
more likely will tell you it is a popular van made by Fiat. But the
word’s roots actually go back to a time that recalls the glorious
history of Florence. The golden florin - in Italian the “fiorino d’oro”
- was a coin in use from 1252 to 1533 in the Republic of Florence. It
was a precious coin (today its value would be about $200) and was the
first European gold coin to play a significant commercial role on the
old continent thanks to notable issues of currency and to the
international network of Florentine banks.
Since 1988 the “fiorino” has become the most important gift of honor
bestowed by the City of Florence to those who have distinguished
themselves by their achievements.
Recently, as you can read in this issue, this award was accorded to Rav
Joseph Levi, Chief Rabbi of Florence, for his commitment to interfaith
dialogue. It is an important acknowledgment for Italian Jewry and for
the historical Jewish Community of Florence (do visit the magnificent
Moorish-style synagogue built in 1882 whenever you should visit
Florence). The “Fiorino d’oro” recognizes the intricate work necessary
to connect the different religions, traditions and habits which has
become crucial in contemporary society. This message maybe never as
necessary as today.
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MOVIES
Jewish
Creativity at Venice
Film Festival
By
Daniela Gross
For moviegoers the upcoming week will be crucial as next Wednesday
(Aug. 27) the historic Venice Film Festival opens its competition
presenting, until September 3, a superb selection of the best
contemporary auteur cinema with 55 world premiers.
At one time the Venice Festival was, along the Cannes Festival, the
main event in the world of cinema. Times have changed: for some time
now a new geography of festivals has come on the scene and
international competition has became much stronger. However, Venice
still maintains its position of absolute international prestige. To be
or not to be selected for this competition makes a profound difference
for a filmmaker, from whatever country he or she comes from.
At Venice, also in this 71th edition, Israeli cinema is well
represented as is Jewish creativity. First of all, it should be noted
that the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement has been awarded to
Frederick Wiseman, the American independent filmmaker.
Read
more
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FEATURES
Milan
Jewish Community
Gears Up for Expo
By
Rossella Tercatin
The Universal Exposition will open in Milan in less than 9 months.
Running from May 1, 2015, the event promises to make the city the
capital of the world for six months. Not only Milan, but the whole
country is getting ready for it, in spite of the repeated problems –
namely delays and scandals - which have come up during the past years.
“Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life”, the theme chosen for Expo 2015,
has aroused a lot of interest, as the high number of participants, 144
countries so far, plus a number of international organizations and
other institutions, shows.
Read
more
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Pulled
up Short – Pedagogical Dilemmas in the Middle East |

By Yaacov Mascetti*
Teaching literature in general is not an easy task – teaching
literature in the Middle East is close to impossible. Every year I
invest a gargantuan amount of physical (in class I walk around a lot,
yell, gesticulate, drink, stand on tables, etc.) and psychological
energy to challenge my very bright students at Bar-Ilan University.
What I want to do in this piece is to address what motivates me to
stand there, year after year, and teach courses in a field that is
certainly going through rough times all over the world. This piece is
also an acknowledgment to my teacher and friend, Prof. William D.
Kolbrener of the Department of English Literature at BIU, and to my
father, Paolo Mascetti, who has always been and still is an example of
intellectual engagement and omnivorous curiosity. Now that I've got the
oedipal stuff out, I can get to the point.
*Ph.D., Department of
Comparative Literature, Bar Ilan University
Read
more
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us on 
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 an
occasional language 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 an
understanding of the Jewish world and the debate within it. The
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© 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: Francesco Moises Bassano, Susanna Barki, Monica
Bizzio, Angelica Edna Calò Livne, Eliezer Di Martino, Alain Elkann,
Daniela Fubini, Benedetta Guetta, Sarah Kaminski, Daniel Leisawitz,
Annette Leckart, Gadi Luzzatto Voghera, Yaakov Mascetti, Francesca
Matalon, Giovanni Montenero, Elèna Mortara, Lisa Palmieri Billig,
Shirley Piperno, Giandomenico Pozzi, Daniel Reichel, Adam Smulevich,
Simone Somekh, Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves.
Questo notiziario è realizzato in
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sono giornalisti italiani di madrelingua italiana. Mettono a
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© 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: Francesco Moises
Bassano, Susanna Barki, Monica Bizzio, Angelica Edna Calò Livne,
Eliezer Di Martino, Alain Elkann, Daniela Fubini, Benedetta Guetta,
Sarah Kaminski, Daniel Leisawitz, Annette Leckart, Gadi Luzzatto
Voghera, Yaakov Mascetti, Francesca Matalon, Giovanni Montenero, Elèna
Mortara, Lisa Palmieri Billig, Shirley Piperno, Giandomenico Pozzi,
Daniel Reichel, Adam Smulevich, Simone Somekh, Rossella Tercatin, Ada
Treves.
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