Starting in the latter part of the 19th century, Jewish gravestones in parts of Europe often included laminated photographs (or even sometimes sculpted portraits) of the deceased. Some of the photos are haunting (such as the one pictured above.) … continue reading →
We often tend to focus on Jewish cemeteries in eastern Europe that were destroyed by the Nazis and/or — as in L’viv or Bialystok or Prague — built over during the post-World War II communist era. But this article … continue reading →
Venice this year is marking the 500th anniversary of the imposition of the Venice Ghetto — the first time ruling authorities in Europe officially confined Jews to a closed, segregated space. There’s a rich array of events to mark … continue reading →
Italy’s culture minister has announced a €25 million grant to enable the completion of the national Museum of Italian Judaism and the Shoah (MEIS), under development in Ferrara. The grant is part of a €1 billion package of state … continue reading →
The old matzo oven has long been one of the sites that can be visited as part of the Jewish museum in Pitigliano, an extraordinarily picturesque hill town in southern Tuscany once known as a “little Jerusalem” because … continue reading →
