Back to School in Italy
It’s back to school in Bella Italia with school bells ringing (literally) in Serrastretta, my tiny village in the mountains of Calabria. Children in many of our mountain communities will attend classes from 8:00 am until 4:30 pm, six days a week, Saturdays included! Although students are permitted one hour for “pranzo,” (lunch), that still amounts […]
Jewish Conversion Italy
It was Mazel Tov all around as eight conversion candidates assembled in southern Italy for Darshan Yeshiva’s first European Bet Din, mikveh and conversion ceremony, it was Jewish Conversion Italy. Organized by Rabbi Barbara Aiello and thanks to the participation of Rabbi Guy Hall (London), Rabbi Mitchell Cohen (USA) and Rabbinic intern, Michael Pollack (Reconstructionist […]
Traveling Torahs
An Update on Italy’s Traveling Torahs Torah on a Train…Torah on a Plane…Torah on a Boat…Torah in a Tote Since 2004 when I arrived here in Italy my life has been a collection of “firsts.” First modern pluralistic rabbi in Italy, first woman rabbi in Italy, officiating at the first ever Bat Mitzvah in Rome […]
Shavuot
Shavuot in the New Millennium or “Who Wrote the Book of Love?” As we celebrate Shavuot this year, take time to Read the Book of Ruth. It is the traditional reading for this festival. The Book of Ruth takes us back to the beauty and mystery of love. Love that begins in a way […]
Holocaust Remembrance
Holocaust Remembrance Compels a Pluralistic Approach to Synagogue Life Sergio Della Pergola, child of the Holocaust, was born in Trieste, Italy in 1942. He survived to become the leading authority in the demography and statistics related to the Jewish population worldwide. An international award winning scholar for his work in applying sociological principles to stark demographics, […]
Jews of the Emerald Isle
Does Your Bubbe Come From Ireland? Characters: Narrator – “Lepra-Cohen” Prophet Jerimiah Rebecca – Jane Forstenzer – the Jewish girl from Lisbon – Portuguese Jews – established Ireland’s First Synagogue in 1660 when there were only 350 Jews in all of Ireland Belfastman Chaim Herzog – Sixth President of Israel Mary Margaret Molly Maguire […]
Queen Esther Italian Legacy
The Queen Esther Italian Legacy with International Women’s Day (*Scroll to bottom of page to hear the “Radio Rabbi” Purim Show) In his compelling book, Triangle: The Fire that Changed America, David Von Drehle reminds his readers in vivid detail of the events of March 25, 1911. By day’s end 146 young girls, burned from […]
Italian Religious Diversity
A Large Catholic Parish and a Tiny Synagogue Build Bridges Upon Italian Religious Diversity of Understanding In the “Toe” of the Italian “Boot!” The knock at the door was so soft that I almost ignored it. After all, the wind had been blowing hard in our mountain village and the sound I heard might have been a rogue […]
Interfaith Weddings Support Jewish Families
Several years ago I received a telephone call from Jason, a young man who grew up in a large Midwestern city. Jason, along with his parents and grandparents, were active in their local synagogue. What prompted the phone call was Jason’s exuberance at having met Valentina, an Italian Catholic and as Jason said, “my b’shert!” […]
Tu B’Shevat
The Kabbalah and Tu B’Shevat – What our mystics say about The Birthday of the Trees Back in the day when many of us went to Sunday School our teachers explained that the festival of Tu B’Shevat celebrates the birthday or the New Year for the trees. But did you know that Tu B’Shevat is […]