the jewish ghetto of venice italy
The Jewish Ghetto of Venice is the oldest in the world, and the 5 synagogues are the oldest still existing. The Museum of Jewish Art was opened in 1955 and displays a precious collection of textiles and silverwork (mostly from the five synagogues), Italian Ketuboth (marriage contracts) and other religious objects of foreign manifacture.
(all these photos: Copyright © David's Shop Editions, Venice)
In 1492 the Spanish king Ferdinand the Catholic issued a decree which drove all Jews out of Spain. The persecution forced Jews to emigrate; in some European cities they could settle in a segregated area, called Ghetto. The origin of this name is Venetian, as the first ghetto in the world was established in Venice in 1516, in the area of the metal foundries ("geto" in Venetian dialect: pronounced with a guttural 'g' by the German Jews, who were the first to settle down here). The word was then used to indicate all Jewish segregated areas.
Jews first settled in the area called "Ghetto Novo" (New Ghetto) probably after a new foundry; another area, the "Ghetto Vecchio" (Old Ghetto), was assigned to Jews after 1541 and the "Ghetto Novissimo" (Newest Ghetto) in 1633.
Photo Copyright © David's Shop Editions, Venice
Photo Copyright © David's Shop Editions, Venice
Pope Paul IV with his Bull issued very strict limits to the activities and relationships between Catholics and Jews.
Jews had to stay in the Ghetto during the night: two large gates closed the area off (the marks of the hinges are still visible today). Christian guards (payed by the Jews themselves) patrolled by boat the canals surrounding the Ghetto and did not let the Jew escape during the night. Nevertheless, the ghetto was a lively place, with shops and schools, and the pawnshops, which the Jews were obliged to run for the city; so Jews spread their commercial and cultural exchanges with the rest of the city. In 1797 Napoleon recognized equal rights to Jews and the segregation ended.
A time of prosperity began, until the Nazi persecution during Second World War: most Italian and Venetian Jews were deported and killed in Nazi camps. The tragedy of Holocaust is reperesented in some works of art in the Ghetto of Venice donated by the Lithuan sculptor Arbit Blatas.
In the Ghetto, Jews followed different rites for their prayers: the most followed where the Italian rite, the Spanish rite or Sephardic (Jews from Spain and Portugal), and the German rite or Ashkenazic (Jews from Central Europe and Provence (France) after 14th century persecutions).
Photo Copyright © David's Shop Editions, Venice
Photo Copyright © David's Shop Editions, Venice
Venice has 5 synagogues or "schole" (schools), named after the rites: the Spanish school (by the famous architect Baldassarre Longhena?), the Levantine school, the Italian school, the Canton school (after the name of a German Jewish family) and the German school.
How to visit the synagogues: entrance is allowed with guided tours provided by the Jewish museum. Until the end of March, you can visit; the Italian, the Spanish and the Canton schools (German is under restoration, Levantina is being used for rites). From April on, you can visit: Levantina, Italian, Canton (Spanish will be used for rites).
Photo Copyright © David's Shop Editions, Venice
In the Island of Lido, the old Jewish cemetery (14th century) was restored recently: it was in ruins as another site was opened nearby in 1777. It is the second oldest Jewish cemetery in Europe (oldest in in Worms, Germany). Guided tours on Sundays; on reservation, also on Wednesdays and Fridays.