I’m always fascinated to learn about Jewish heritage in Italy. So, here’s a Jewish cultural event that will be going on this fall.

September 7 marks the European Day of Jewish Culture, and, according to Ruth Ellen Gruber’s blog Jewish Heritage Travel, “Italy is consistently probably the most enthusiastic country that takes part.” This year’s theme for Jewish Culture Day will be “Music,” and Italy is expected to host events in some 58 towns and cities, including Milan and Mantova.

To see a schedule of events and information about the programs, visit the Giornata Europea della Cultura Ebraica website. Note that the information is in Italian, but the times and locations are pretty easy to understand.

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Just in time for Passover, I’ve found a great resource for all things Jewish in Italy. JewishItaly.org has links and info to synagogues, kosher stores, Jewish museums, and more. If you are Jewish or just interested in Jewish culture and history, you can also browse JewishItaly’s list of towns that can claim Jewish heritage or presently have a Jewish community. Also interesting are JewishItaly’s news tidbits, including a recent listing from March 1, 2008, noting that five restaurants in Rome have lost their kosher certification. As this is a part of Italian history that few travelers are aware of, this site is worth checking out.

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Though International Holocaust Remembrance Day just passed (on Jan. 27), there’s still a chance to remember those who suffered at the hands of the Nazis and Fascists (and other rogue regimes).

The Italian Cultural Institute in Washington, DC, will hold a screening of the documentary La Strada di Levi on Tuesday, January 29 at 6 p.m. Here’s the press release write-up:

The International Holocaust Remembrance Day which was officially established in 2005 by the United Nations as an annual world day of commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and has been held in Italy since the year 2000. On January 27, 1945, the concentration camp at Auschwitz, Poland, was liberated by the advancing Red Army of the Soviet Union. Among the prisoners was Italian writer Primo Levi, whose journey back to his hometown Turin, is depicted by Davide Ferrario’s documentary, combining a careful historical investigation with a cutting insight into today’s Europe.

For more information about the event, contact iicwashington@esteri.it.

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An interesting article from the New York Times today profiling the rising real estate rates in Rome’s Ghetto. The area, bordered by the Tiber, Campo de’ Fiori, and the Campidoglio, has long been one of our favorite spots in the city – for its food, few boutiques, and relative calm. Seems like we’re not the only ones who like it here:

Renewal, in Real Estate and in Culture, for Ancient People

While we’re on the subject of Rome’s Jewish Quarter, we must mention that January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Many forget that many of Italy’s Jews perished during World War II, and not just in camps in Germany and Poland. In fact, there are a few sites in and around Rome that mark this tragic time in history, including the Fosse Ardeatine and the Historic Museum of the Liberation of Rome at Via Tasso 145.

See also:
The Virtual Jewish History Tour: Rome
Jewish Italy
Wikipedia: Roman Ghetto

Related posts

• What’s On in Italy: October 2008
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