A perspective of the Jewish communities in Italy
“History repeats itself because, as human beings, we discard the truths of others and accept only our own, often at the expense of others.” Foreword
While watching the Da Vinci Code on television recently, I was reminded once again how novels, especially historical or alternative history fiction, can highlight bits and pieces of history. For example, I was able to see through this film, the period during which Constantinople had proclaimed Christianity as the national religion in Italy. In reality, he was simply graphically presenting what he had already studied about Jews in Italy: A Perspective of Jewish Communities in Italy by Adolph Caso.
Have you ever taken an online course? Interested? I thoroughly enjoyed it – text, great historical and appropriate images, and the online discussion from the Dante University presenters.
I have chosen items of greatest interest to me personally to highlight in this review, as Caso’s text, while brief, is such an intense history of the lives that Jews have led in Italy, that it is impossible to adequately cover the material! The contributions of the Jews to the world are obviously immense, in all fields of activity.
From approximately 161 a. C., Rome extended hospitality and religious tolerance to the Jewish people, something unique, because in other places they were enslaved! Rome has hosted a Jewish community, at the same time that it is the center of Christianity. In fact, in the absence of a state of Israel, from AD 70 to 1947, the Jewish communities of Rome became the State of Israel.
Case’s investigation provides insight into the situation in Rome as they tried to control their captured lands, especially with the rise of Jesus, with his claim as the Messiah, sparking acts of rebellion. Later, Peter, a follower of Christ, gave physical structure to the Catholic Church. But, bound by the principles of their Jewish religion, which were not forgotten or denied, Judaism, which is the basis of Christianity, has survived as a religion along with Christianity itself.
While the Romans had destroyed Jerusalem and its temple around AD 70, the Jews were able to build a synagogue around AD 100, the first to be built outside of Israel. It became the new center of the Jewish world in Rome. Such prominence meant that the Romans were more than willing to have the visible and active lifestyle of the Jews … as free citizens.
Then, the civil strife began to reap its ugly head on political and religious issues. While the persecutions of Christians remained rampant, the political scene culminated when Constantine became emperor and Christianity became the state religion.
As all these things happened to them, wherever they were, emerging Christians continued to be inspired by certain Jews and were boldly inspired by Judaism – its literature, its liturgy, its customs, and its regulations. “At a time when everyone seemed so desperate, with abuses thrown at them wherever they were, ironically they must have also witnessed the reworking of Judaism into Christianity.”
Even when more wars and battles were fought, the end result was that the Jews were able to stay in Italy. In fact, it was to Italy that Jews fled while seeking asylum from Germany’s Hitler so many years later … and it was the Pope himself who got personally involved in the work to provide them with security. Despite the fascist nation, the Catholic Church operated something like an underground railway. Pope Pius Xi shared:
“Note well that in the Catholic Mass, Abraham is our Patriarch and ancestor. Anti-Semitism is incompatible with the high thinking that that fact expresses. It is a movement that Christians cannot have anything to do with ”.
In Italy, and in the other parts of Europe where Italians were stationed, more than 75 percent of the local Jews were saved; the opposite was true elsewhere. This result speaks volumes for the hearts of most Italians. Few countries have achieved such nobility.
When the words of another can reach the depths of our minds and force us to face the atrocities that have occurred when one people arbitrarily choose to hate and abuse another, we must all realize that it is necessary for each of us, working together , forge ways by which we can improve. Adolfo Caso’s Perspective has shown that a nation has done it. May we all review this text and use it for the future!
* Online Internet Course Available at Dante University Presented by Adolph Caso, Author, Editor, and President of the Dante University Foundation
Jews in Italy:
A Jewish perspective
Communities in Italy
By Adolfo Caso
Dante University
116 Text / Video Page *