!TRAVEL I
Venice's Old Section
Has Much To Offer
RUTH E. GRUBER
Special to The Jewish News
T
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to know about strangers.
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52
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1989
❑
Jewish Telegrahic Agency
Sonestas Of Israel
Are More than A Hotel
"You'll like our service „ .
you'll love our people."
Adeline A. Laforet, RN
his city gave the world
the word — and the
concept of — the ghet-
to, and no Jewish tourist in
the Canal City should miss a
visit to the old Jewish section.
The ancient ghetto area is
an easy walk from the train
station in the northern part of
the city. It was once the Foun-
dry District — "ghetto" in the
Venetian dialect — and it was
here that in 1516 Venice
became the first Italian city
to confine Jews to one section
of town. It was not until 1797
the Jews were allowed to live
in other parts of the city.
lbday, the area is slightly
off the more fully-beaten
tourist track, but the tourists
say the characteristic ar-
chitecture, the beautifully
decorated old synagogues and
the little Jewish Musuem are
well worth a few hours' visit.
There are also several shops
in the area where one can buy
books, Jewish versions of
typical Venetian souvenirs —
Mezuzot and kiddush cups
made from. Murano glass,
Star of David pendants in
mosaic lace hangings with
Jewish designs and the like.
The center of the ghetto is
the new Ghetto Square (Ghet-
to Nuovo), which was the first
plact in which Jews were con-
fined. Adjacent are the Ghet-
to Vecchio and Ghetto
Nuovissino, which eventually
were also assigned to the
Jewish community.
At one time, as many as
5,000 Jews lived in the ghet-
to. They could circulate free-
ly in the city during the day,'
but at sunset they were lock-
ed inside behind gates which
were watched over by guards
until dawn.
At the entrance to the Ghet-
to Nuovo you can still see the
remains of the hinges of the
gates and windows of the
guard house. A stone tablet
dating back to 1541 lists
regulations for the Jews. The
architecture in the ghetto is
different from that elsewhere
in Venice.
For so many people confin-
ed in a relatively small space
— only 42,000 square yards —
the only way to build homes
was to build up, and the
many-storied apartment
buildings are known as Vene-
tian Skyscrapers.
One of the best ways to visit
the ghetto is to start at the
Jewish Museum and join one
of the guided tours of three of
the ghetto's five synagogues.
Tours are given in several
languages, including English,
and the tour includes visits to
the Spanish School, Levan-
tine School and German
School synagogues, all dating
back to the 16th century and
all elaborately decorated.
The guide explains the dif-
ferences between the various
Jewish groups that once lived
in Venice, distinguished by
their different origins and
rites. It is also interesting to
note that most of the syna-
gogues in Venice were built
on the top floors of already ex-
isting buildings.
The great German School
synagogue is on the top floor
of the building that now
houses the Jewish Museum.
The museum's two rooms con-
tain a rich display of ritual
art and objects, including
finely wrought silver and
beautiful ketubot.
There are also manuscripts
and other sacred objects. The
museum, too, has a wide
selection of books — many in
English — on sale, relating
both specifically to the Venice
ghetto as well as to Italian
and European Jewry.
Today, there are only about
500 or so Jews living in
Venice, and few of them live
in the ghetto area. Syna-
gogues services are held in
one of tw operating syna-
gogues on Sabbath and
holidays only.
747-8070
Ann Arbor
ROSE KLEINER
Special to The Jewish News
F
or seven years the
name Sonesta was in
the news as Israel and
Egypt debated the fate of
Taba. now that the dispute
has finally been settled,
Isreal's Sonesta connection is
stronger than ever.
The Taba Sonesta, under
Egyptian ownership, will con-
tinue to serve tourists from
Israel. In fact, it will still be
managed by Eli Popushado,
its former Israeli owner. In
addition, a new luxury
Sonesta hotel will open this
year on the Dead Sea.
Another Sonesta, in the