ITALY page 139
Though degrading, the re-
quirement to wear an emblem
and live in a confined area
helped the Jews preserve their
culture and life style. The Jews
had their own places of worship,
their own butchers and bakers
who prepared food according to
kosher laws.
Another interesting piece of
information I learned was that
although the Venetians in the
14th and 15th centuries were
prohibited by law from perse-
cuting Jews, they made sharp
distinctions among different
types of Jews.
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Levantine Jews—those from
Greece, North Africa and the
Middle East—held a privileged
position, compared to Ponentine
Jews—those from Spain and
Portugal—as well as German
Jews. The Levantines did busi-
ness side by side with the Vene-
tians outside the ghetto, and
they did not have to wear the
scarlet hat.
In 1572, the Jews were ex-
pelled from Venice. The story
goes that the expulsion was due
to friction with the Venetian
business people. But the Jews
were soon brought back. The
reason for their return was that
they controlled Venice's impor-
tant trade in spices, woolens, silk
and sugar. Also, the Jews were
valuable citizens because a sig-
nificant number of them prac-
ticed medicine.
By the 17th century, the Jews
in the ghetto were doing very
well economically and socially.
The records show that Chris-
tians often went to concerts in
the synagogues, and Jews par-
ticipated in public events.
In 1797, Napoleon abolished
the ghetto. After hundreds of
years of segregation, the Jews
were free to move. Few left, how-
ever, because they were re-
spected and safe in the ghetto.
Today, about 600 Jews live in
Venice (total population of the
canal city is over 300,000). Some
Jews are merchants; some are
professional people. Most live
outside the ghetto, but they still
consider the old foundry area to
be their spiritual and cultural
home.
For the most part, today's
ghetto is inhabited by lower-mid-
die class people. It is clean; and
the buildings, while very old, are
still in good-shape.
The Venice ghetto offers beau-
ty, history, culture and religion.
Quite a package. I strongly rec-
ommend you add it to your itin-
erary when you next visit.
northern Italy.❑
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