Italy: Agreement with state recognizes Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) as sole Jewish authority over activities related to Jewish cemeteries discovered during archaeological work

The Italian government has signed an agreement with the umbrella Union of Italian Jewish Communities(UCEI) that officially recognizes the UCEI as the sole Jewish institution with authority over “excavation, conservation, and restoration” activities related to Jewish cemeteries discovered during archaeological work. 

Among other things, the agreement, signed by the UCEI and the Ministry of Culture in December, prevents foreign Jewish institutions, authorities, or individuals from claiming authority over such sites in Italy.

“It is important to have a framework that explains that if a problem arises, the rabbinical authority must be involved in the matter on equal terms with the heritage authority, and that this responsibility cannot be assigned to a rabbinical authority other than the Italian one,”  the architect David Palterer, who has been involved in several Jewish heritage projects in Italy, was quoted by the UCEI’s information website Moked as saying. 

The agreement states that if a company or other entity plans to conduct an archaeological excavation in an area with a possible Jewish burial site, it must first conduct preliminary non-invasive archaeological research.

If a potential Jewish burial site is discovered where its presence was not anticipated, it states, it is mandatory to form a multidisciplinary panel comprising experts from the Ministry of Culture, the UCEI, and the relevant companies to determine the appropriate course of action.

All heritage authorities and private companies nationwide must comply with the guidelines outlined in this agreement.

There have been several major discoveries of ancient Jewish burial sites in Italy. These include the discovery (and excavation) of medieval Jewish cemeteries in Bologna in 2012-2014, and in Rome announced in 2017. 

There are also five ancient Roman-era Jewish catacombs in Rome, as well as extensive Jewish catacombs in Venosa (where there also maybe the site of a long-destroyed ninth century Jewish cemetery). 

The recognition of the UCEI and Italian rabbinate as having authority over Jewish cemeteries in archeological contexts appears to have been a response to the case several years ago regarding the site of the old Jewish cemetery in Mantova, where a group of Haredi Jews from outside Italy had halted the multi-million-euro “Mantova Hub” development project at the site.

Known as San Niccolò, the cemetery was founded in the mid-15^th century and closed in 1786. It had already been sold to local authorities by the Jewish community around 170 years ago and had long been partially built over by some of the buildings slated for renewal as part of the Hub.

Haredi rabbis and others from outside Italy had attempted to block any work at the cemetery site, saying the cemetery had been sold under duress. Archival evidence shows that noted rabbis were buried there. 

As we posted in 2021, the impasse was resolved thanks to David Palterer and Ph.D. Fellow Luca Cardani from the Milan Polytechnic, who developed a set of guidelines and case studies that allowed work at the site to proceed in accordance with Halacha. 

The new agreement in not retroactive, and work at the Mantova Hub project continues today under the supervision of the foreign Haredi Jewish cemetery protection group Asra Kadisha,  which was granted permission by Italian rabbis. (Asra Kadisha had earlier been one of the groups calling for the work to be halted. )

However, under the terms of the new agreement, the UCEI will now serve as the sole authority responsible for such activities.

While regarding Italy, the new agreement, which was developed by by a mixed commission launched in September 2023 and composed of members of the Italian Government and the UCEI, could set a precedent.

In addition to the Mantova case, there have been other instances over the years, in other countries, when outside Haredi Jews have attempted to block projects or act unilaterally or in conflict with local Jewish communal policy.

Noemi Di Segni, president of the UCEI, was quoted by Moked as saying the agreement represents “the starting point for an ambitious project [and] an important step to safeguard both the integrity of religious precepts and the public interest deriving from the protection of the national cultural heritage.”

UCEI leaders also praised the example of cooperation between the UCEI and the state in preserving the Jewish catacombs at Villa Torlonia, one of the five Jewish catacombs in Rome.

In 2017, the Italian government provided €1.5 million for its restoration and conservation.  

The work was carried out respecting Halachic regulations, with Rome Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni working with the Israeli conservator Amir Genach and his company.  

 “The collaboration [on Villa Torlonia] proved successful. The Ministry showed great openness and willingness to find a balance between the various needs,” Gloria Arbib, UCEI representative for heritage, was quoted by Moked as saying. 

Nonetheless, the catacombs remain closed to the public,  and the site still requires  further restoration and security measures.

See details of the agreement