news

Annual Report on Anti-Semitism
in Italy Unveiled

By Daniel Reichel
 
The Milan-based Foundation for the Center of Jewish Contemporary Documentation (CDEC) published its Annual Report on anti-Semitism in Italy last week.
The Report was presented in collaboration with the Municipality of Milan by Betti Guetta, the CDEC researcher responsible for monitoring anti-Semitism.
"What is worrying about the Italian situation is primarily the editorial operations that foment anti-Semitic rhetoric and the use of anti-Judaic language in the public debate," said the CDEC director Gadi Luzzatto Voghera.

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NEWS

Bilateral Agreement between Israel
and Holy See May Soon be Reached

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NEWS

Rosselli Brothers Archive Returns to the Public

By Adam Smulevich
 
The papers and the private library of Carlo and Nello Rosselli, two famous anti-fascist Jewish intellectuals killed in France on June 9, 1937, most likely following a direct order by Benito Mussolini, were returned to Florence.
The materials which risked being lost forever are now a part of the state Archives of Florence. The initiative took place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of their murder. There was a formal inauguration of an exhibition dedicated to the Rosselli brothers at the Archives.

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bECHOL LASHON - Français

"La construction du East Med, une révolution"

i24news staff

"La construction du gazoduc East Med va constituer une révolution" a affirmé le Premier ministre israélien Benyamin Netanyahou jeudi à l'issue d'une rencontre tripartite à Thessalonique (nord) en Grèce. "Nous avons discuté de production de l'énergie, de la production et du transfert de l'énergie électrique, mais aussi et surtout de la construction du gazoduc East Med, qui va constituer une révolution, un ouvrage très prometteur", a déclaré M. Netanyahou, après s'être entretenu avec le président chypriote Nikos Anastasiades et son homologue grec Alexis Tsipras, pour leur troisième rendez-vous trilatéral en un an et demi.

*i24news 15.6.17

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pilpul

Papers and History

By David Bidussa*

The papers, library and documents that belonged to Carlo and Nello Rosselli were brought back to Florence after many vicissitudes and a real risk of being lost forever. This is not good news only for historians. There are acts that are important because they represent a story that does not have an ending and could possibly start again. Together with the papers there is also a piece of Italian Jewish history being returned to Florence. It is a small item, but nevertheless quite meaningful. It is right for these items be brought back and it is very comforting that they were not lost forever.


*David Bidussa is an historian.

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IT HAPPENED TOMORROW

Dunkle Quellen

Guido Vitale

"(...) Auch diese Ideen reichen in das 19. Jahrhundert zurück. Die Vorstellung von Amerika als einer Nation beruhte in ihrer konservativen Variante auf dem Gedanken des Ausschlusses. Die Begründung hierfür basierte auf religiös-ethnischen Argumenten. Diese Argumente waren immer präsent, erlangten aber nie politische Wirkmächtigkeit. Die katholische Immigration schürte bei protestantischen Gruppen Angst vor einer tief greifenden Änderung des politischen Systems, vor allem aber fürchtete die Elite den Verlust ihrer politischen und kulturellen Hegemonie. Es formierte sich daher nicht nur gesellschaftlicher, sondern auch politischer Widerstand gegen die katholische Einwanderung: Bereits 1852 gründeten einige Gegner der Katholiken die American Party als ausländerfeindliche und spezifisch antikatholische Gruppierung. Ihre Mitglieder hingen Verschwörungstheorien an, in denen Katholiken die Rolle der Bösewichte übernehmen mussten, oft spielten sexuelle Ängste eine Rolle. Entsprechend dieser Ideologie begann die Partei daher als klandestine, von Verdrängungsängsten geprägte verschworene Gemeinschaft. Anhänger der Partei wurden in der Presse als Know-Nothings verspottet. Der Name stammt von Geheimgesellschaften, deren Mitglieder auf Fragen nach ihrer Organisation angeblich immer mit "I know nothing" ("Ich weiß von nichts") antworteten. Schon 1855 zerbrach die Bewegung am Streit um die Sklaverei. In den 1930er- und 1940er-Jahren lebte diese Ideologie jedoch wieder auf und fand in Figuren wie Henry Ford, dem Populisten Huey Long, vor allem aber Charles Lindenbergh ihre Leitbilder. Lindbergh verbreitete Verschwörungstheorien und Antisemitismus. (...)" (Süddeutsche Zeitung, 19-6-17)

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italics

UK Rebbetzens Trip
to Rome

In a rare and invaluable opportunity for Rebbetzens based across the UK, 40 ladies travelled to Rome from as far afield as Cardiff, Newcastle and Liverpool to participate in a 2-day leadership development trip that aimed to supercharge British communities from the top down.
The trip, held over Sunday and Monday, comes as the latest instalment of Valerie Mirvis’ Investing in Rebbetzens initiative, which works in conjunction with the Chief Rabbi’s Centre for Community Excellence (CCE) to inspire and empower the women at the heart of our congregations.
At the top of the agenda was discussion of the competing roles incumbent upon the contemporary Rebbetzen, as one who is at once helping to lead a community, often juggling another job and raising a family. This was addressed by Rebbetzen Chaya Zimmerman of Gateshead in her session on the trials, tribulations and opportunities that emerge from being a role model.

Her’s was one of three focused learning sessions that took place in the Renzo Levi Jewish school on the Monday and was followed by a session by Valerie Mirvis, who drew upon the world of clinical supervision to discuss in detail the key elements of healthy working relationships. She highlighted the importance of mutual empathy and competence as being crucial to the systemic success of any community. Lastly, Rebbetzen Oser of the Hong Kong community gave a presentation focusing on consumerism, entitled ‘How to Want Less and Get More’.
.

*This article was published on chiefrabbi.com on June 13, 2017.

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