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Jewish catacombs of Italy
need world Jewry’s suport
by Kevin Freeman
NEW YORK (JTA)—The Jewish
catacombs of Italy, which are to
leave the custody of the Vatican
and become the responsibility of
the Italian government, has placed
the Italian Jewish community on
the brink of an historical cultural
victory—which might turn out to
be a pyrrhic victory unless there is
sufficient support from world Jewry.
This is the message Tullia Zevi,
president of the Union of Italian
Jewish Communities, brought here
in a speech to the Jewish Museum
and in a later interview with the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The
meeting at the museum marked the
beginning of the Italian Jewish
Heritage Foundation of America.
“This is our common roots,
because, after all, the roots of
American Jewry are in Europe,”
Zevi said in an interview in a New
York cafe. “Your roots are our
roots and we want to be the custodian
of our common roots with your help.”
Zevi specifically is seeking financial
support and archaeological expertise
to aid in Italian Jewry’s maintenance
of the catacombs.
There are about a dozen major
Jewish catacombs—underground
burial networks going back to the
first century BCE and spanning^be.f
next five—known to have existed
in Italy. Archaeological explorations
dating back to the 1600s testify to
their existence in Rome, Sicily,
Sardinia and the southern region
of Apulia—especially Venosa and
Bari.
Scholars estimate that in I mperial
Rome, underground labyrinths were
lined with up to 100,000 tombs.
The tombs provide priceless infor
mation on the daily lives of Jews in
the earliest European diaspora. “We
are your past, you are the great
present,” said Zevi.
Since Italy’s reunification in 1870,
and more formally since the 1929
Concordant between the Italian
government and the Holy See, some
Jewish and Christian catacombs in
Italy have been under the control
of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commis
sion for Sacred Art.
In February 1984, the secretaries
of the state of Italy and of the
Vatican signed a revised version of
the Concordat under which the
Holy See agreed to relinquish its
management of all “non-Christian”
catacombs.
Though Italy’s 35,000 Jews had
long and anxiously awaited this
move, they now fear that lack of
funds and archaeological know
how might well impede the restora
tion, further exploration and, above
all, conservation of the catacombs.
“We are gratified by our victory,
but we fear that this victory, unless
we find the help of our fellow Jews
in the United States and Canada,
may turn into a defeat because we
may find ourselves with something
we can’t take care of because we
don’t have the means and the
know-how.” Zevi said.
According to Zevi, in the first
century CE perhaps seven percent
of the Roman Empire’s total popula
tion was Jewish, and Rome alone
had about 40,000 to 60,000 Jews
and 13 synagogues.
The epigraphs in the catacombs
about 75 percent in Greek, most of
the rest in Latin and a small number
in Hebrew reveal the wide range
of arts and professions of early
Italian Jews: from the artists, actors
and scribes to lawyers, bankers,
physicians, merchants and sailors—as
well as their family, social and
religious community.
Most of the Jewish catacombs
were plundered in the long centuries
before the Vatican authorities took
over their supervision, and their
treasures still surface at private
auctions. These thefts stopped with
Torah
thouahfs
Life
Adapted from the works of Rabbi Menachem M
Schnecrson, the l.ubavitcher Rebbe, by Rabbi
Vossi New. C'habad of Georgia
What is the view of Chassidut
concerning an after-life?
Death is not cessation of life,
hence the term “after-life” is not a
proper expression. But rather,
one’s spiritual life takes on new
dimensions or is elevated to a
higher plane. I his is logical and
follows from the principles of
science which you consider to be
the absolute truth.
In science, the principle of the
conservation of matter states that
nothing physical can be annihi
lated. This table or a piece of iron
can be cut up or e\en burned, but
in no case could the matter of the
table or the iron be destroyed. It
simply takes on a new shape
So likewise, in spiritual life, our
Rabbi Schneerson
thoughts, feelings, etc., can never
be destroyed, but can change their
form or elevate themselves to a
higher plane.
(Same questioner) Is the after
life of a soul, personal or imper
sonal'.’
In conjunction with what we
said before, the table is not des
troyed when it is burned, it merely
takes on a new form. Once again,
therefore, the term “after-life” is
inappropriate. Rather, it is a con
tinuation of life. Until 120 life is
carried on at one level, and at 121.
122. 123, it is carried on at another
level, and thus we go higher and
higher in the realm of spirit. There
is nothing metaphysical or mysti
cal about this if you accept the
truth (of science).
the Vatican take over in 1929.
Zevi also spoke at the Jewish
Museum for the need to preserve
Jewish libraries and archives, as
well as synagogues in small towns
in Italy. Some of these synagogues
are located where once flourishing
Jewish communities no longer exist.
“There, conservation poses a
problem,” said Zevi.
“In a number of cases we were
able to apply a formula which is
proving satisfactory: the synagogue
is sold to the municipality for a
symbolic sum. so that funds can be
allocated for its restoration. In
exchange, we are assured that the
Jewish character w ill be maintained,
and that it be used only for cultural
activities of a high standard, such
as lectures and concerts,” Zevi told
the Jewish Museum gathering.
For example, she cited the city
of Pitigliano, once described as
“the little Jerusalem,” according to
Zevi, where an agreement was recently
signed with the municipality for
the restoration of a synagogue
destroyed by a landslide 25 years
ago, and of the old Passover oven
nearby.
In an effort to rescue at least
some of the books, documents and
other archival materials, an old car
repair shop near Rome’s main
synagogue has been purchased for
a proposed Italian National Jewish
Library and Heritage Center. About
$350,000 has been allocated already
by Rome’s regional and provincial
authorities for restoration of the
building. Zevi estimated that about
$3 million is need for the Library
and Heritage Center.
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KACH ATLANTA
Organizational meeting
Monday, April 7,1986 8 p.m.
Conference Rm., AJCC Peachtree
Learn About Kach
View Rabbi Meir Kahane’s presen
tation to the National Press Club
Kach Atlanta is an organization dedicated to the promotion of
Jewish values and activities in accordance with the ideals of the Kach
Party in Israel and its leader, Rabbi Meir Kahane.
We urge everyone in the Atlanta community that is interested in
learning about or advancing the authentic Jewish experience to come
to the Organizational Meeting. It is important that a communitywide
support group be developed. We will be electing officers and board
members of Kach Atlanta.
Promote identity, strength and know
ledge-help carry forth the history and
tradition of our people into the future.
For more information please call
Barney Cortell: 321-4156
Sleep Late On Sunday.
There’s no need to rush — the Sheraton Brunch
is waiting for you.
The coffee is hot, the food is delicious, and
the hour is civilized.
The nicest Sundays start with brunch at Monty’s
in the Sheraton Century Center Hotel.
Hours: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
S
0 Sunday Brunch
Redeem this coupon
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Making Sunday Rrunch a tradition in Atlanta
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For Reservations call:
325-0000
PAGE 11 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE March 28, 1986