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March 2nd, 2015 - Adar 11th, 5775
Retournez-vous By Guido Vitale* L'opposant à Poutine, Boris Nemtsov, assassiné de quatre balles dans le dos, devant le Kremlin. Les enquêteurs russes parlent d'un crime "minutieusement planifié", sans trancher entre les pistes politique, ukrainienne et islamiste. Je propose mon aide aux enquêteurs: retournez-vous au lieu de tourner en rond. Et surtout, faites vite, car la longue liste des opposants a tendance à se raccourcir d'année en année. (Michel Kichka) *Guido Vitale is the editor-in-chief of Pagine Ebraiche.   Italian Word of the Week MASCHERA By Daniela Gross Purim is approaching, and if you have kids they will definitely have their “maschera” ready. In Italian, a “maschera” – the word of this week - means a mask or a costume. The Italian Carnival, especially the one in Venice, is famous all around the world. Our Purim, which has a completely different meaning, certainly has not the same reputation. But in any case, it has always been a beloved event in the Italian Jewish Communities. Kids adore wearing their costumes or playing the role of Queen Esther, Amman, Mordecai or Ahasueros in school recitals. Moreover, it’s the only opportunity in which they are required make noise at the Synagogue: every time the Amman name is pronounced during the Meghillat Esther. Purim, with its parties, is a fantastic holiday also for the adults (if you don’t feel too weird wearing a disguise and acting like a fool, of course). But in some ways, it might feel strange. You and your kids are the only around with a costume: It can be embarrassing, and it also looks like a profound metaphor of our lives as Jews in the Diaspora. But we will think about that tomorrow. Now it’s time to have fun, a bit of wine, and some of the magnificent Purim cakes, which you will read about in this issue.		NEWS Independence and Security Italy’s Conditions to Palestine By Daniela Gross Italy's Lower House approved two motions on the issue of Palestinian statehood. The motion from the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi was approved with 300 votes in favor. Its text commits the Italians government "to continue to support the goal of ... establishment of a Palestinian state living  in peace, security and prosperity next to the state of Israel, on the basis of mutual recognition." The second motion, promoted by the New Centre Right, didn’t mention recognition of a Palestinian State but instead called for direct negotiations between Palestinian leaders and Israel. Read more purim 5775 From Hamantaschen to Chiacchiere By Rossella Tercatin In the Jewish world when you say Purim you hear Hamantaschen. The triangle-shaped cookies traditionally filled with poppy seeds (but also jam, chocolate and more) are the typical Ashkenazi food associated with this holiday. Hamantaschnen is offered and eaten all over the world. And yet the truth is that in the same way Italian minhag (tradition) differs from other Jewish traditions in the world, Italian Purim culinary traditions have much more to offer. Read more media DafDaf, in Time for Purim By Ada Treves The cover the March issue of DafDaf, the Jewish magazine for kids, is devoted to Purim. The graggers and the hamantaschen by Luisa Valenti immediately point the readers to the page by Benedetta Guetta, blogger and photographer, whose recipe of the montini is perfect for the Mishloach manot. Related to Purim there are also the pages "music, Maestra!", written by the scholar and musician Maria Teresa Milano: this month she has chosen "Esther", an opera in three acts by Hugo Weisgall that was staged for the first time in 1993 at the New York City Opera. “Hugo Weisgall’s Esther is a big woman with a powerful voice. There are energetic dances and scenes of great impact.” The main character of the page "Here come the monsters” lives in water: "How would you feel if a huge and scary fish (perhaps a whale) swallowed you? Unceremoniously, in one big gulp. What would you do if you were to live in his huge and slimy body?". And no, we are not talking about Pinocchio, the focus is on the book of Jonah, that begins with an escape... Read more ANNIVERSARIES  Florence, Capital of Italy By Adam Smulevich The Jewish Community of Florence is celebrating 150 years since the time Florence was made capital of Italy. The community is hosting a variety of events, debates and meetings. Organized together with the local Jewish Museum and with the support of cultural and institutional partners the events are mainly dedicated to 'exotism' and to the contribution of Florentine Jews to progress and democracy. A special commemorative plaque was dedicated to the synagogue and to its secrets and traditions. Read more Português Purim - Simha e Sasson por Eliezer Di Martino* Com a vitória dos judeus sobre os seus inimigos, a Meguilá nos informa que "os judeus tiveram luz e alegria (Simha) e regozijo (Sasson) e honra. " Qual é a diferença entre Simha e Sasson, e como isso afecta a nossa compreensão da mensagem deste versiculo? Simha: Refere-se a satisfação física. Quando a Torá nos ordena ter Simha durante os Festivais, o Talmud interpreta que isso significa que nós devemos comer carne e beber vinho. A Simha é desfrutada quando temos uma boa refeição. As sete bênçãos do casamento se referem a como Deus providenciou alegria (Simha) a Adão e Eva no Jardim do Éden. Isso também pode ser entendido como a satisfação e o bem-estar físico. Adão e Eva foram fornecidos com o clima maravilhoso e os alimentos do paraíso. *Eliezer Di Martino es el rabino de Trieste. Leia mais Europe Is Not a Country By Anna Momigliano* We read a lot of reports about the growth of anti-Semitism in Europe – to the point that, after the deadly attacks in Paris and Copenhagen, Netanyahu called for Jews to leave the continent. But is Europe really becoming more inhospitable for Jews? The issue is far too complex to be answered with a mere Yes or No. However there's one thing we can be pretty sure about: Europe is not a country. It's not a single entity. The situation in France and Sweden is very worrying, while in the UK or Italy Jews are doing relatively fine, and there are other places that could be categorized as “in betweens”. So you cannot put all European Jews in the same box. *Anna Momigliano is an Italian journalist currently based in Milan.   Read more
Follow 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 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: Francesco Moises Bassano, Susanna Barki, Amanda Benjamin, Monica Bizzio, Angelica Edna Calò Livne, Eliezer Di Martino, Alain Elkann, Dori Fleekop, Daniela Fubini, Benedetta Guetta, Sarah Kaminski, Daniel Leisawitz, Annette Leckart, Gadi Luzzatto Voghera, Yaakov Mascetti, Francesca Matalon, Jonathan Misrachi, Anna Momigliano, Giovanni Montenero, Elèna Mortara, Sabina Muccigrosso, Lisa Palmieri Billig, Jazmine Pignatello, Shirley Piperno, Giandomenico Pozzi, Daniel Reichel, Colby Robbins,  Danielle Rockman, Lindsay Shedlin, Rachel Silvera, Adam Smulevich, Simone Somekh, Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves, Lauren Waldman. 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: Francesco Moises Bassano, Susanna Barki, Amanda Benjamin, Monica Bizzio, Angelica Edna Calò Livne, Eliezer Di Martino, Alain Elkann, Dori Fleekop, Daniela Fubini, Benedetta Guetta, Sarah Kaminski, Daniel Leisawitz, Annette Leckart, Gadi Luzzatto Voghera, Yaakov Mascetti, Francesca Matalon, Jonathan Misrachi, Anna Momigliano, Giovanni Montenero, Elèna Mortara, Sabina Muccigrosso, Lisa Palmieri Billig, Jazmine Pignatello, Shirley Piperno, Giandomenico Pozzi, Daniel Reichel, Colby Robbins,  Danielle Rockman, Lindsay Shedlin, Rachel Silvera, Adam Smulevich, Simone Somekh, Rossella Tercatin, Ada Treves, Lauren Waldman.