Italian communities

​The Italian Jewish community has ancient roots that can be traced back to the Roman era in the second century BCE. During the 16th century, the first Jewish ghetto was established in Venice and other prohibitions were issued against the Jews. The Jews slowly gained emancipation during the 18th and 19th centuries. The 1930s brought Mussolini, fascism, and, ultimately, anti-Semitism to Italy. While many Jews were saved by local Italians and the Church, approximately 7,500 Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. This resource pack tells the intriguing story of the Italian Jewish community through unique primary sources.