In Serrastretta, a small village in the Calabria located on the slopes of Sila, lives Rabbi Barbara Aiello, the first liberal female rabbi in Italy. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to an Italian Jewish family (her father was a liberator of the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany), she is 75 years old today. She was ordained Rabbi at the Rabbinical Seminary in New York at the age of 51, and subsequently moved to her parents' town, where she founded the only synagogue active in Calabria in the last five hundred years: Ner Tamid del Sud (the eternal light of the South). Let's get to know her better.
Rabbi Barbara, you are the first Italian woman to hold this role. How many women rabbis are there in the world?
«Across the world, women rabbis continue to be pioneers. We are 25% of all rabbis in the world and it has been less than 50 years since the first woman was ordained as a rabbi (in the United States). Women rabbis represent a huge shift in Jewish tradition. The Orthodox, however, do not allow women to become one. Furthermore, for the Orthodox, women cannot sit in the sanctuary next to their husbands or children and cannot touch, carry or read the Torah scroll. For this reason, we find female rabbis among modern Reform and pluralist Jews. I believe that sooner or later the Orthodox will admit women rabbis."
«Throughout the world women rabbis continue to be pioneers. We are 25 percent of all the rabbis in the world and it has been less than 50 years since the first woman was ordained a rabbi(in the USA). Women rabbis represent a huge change in Jewish tradition. But among the orthodox they do not permit women to serve as rabbis. In addition they do not permit women to sit in the sanctuary beside their husbands or sons and they do not permit women to touch, carry or read from the Torah scroll. For this reason we find women rabbis among modern reform and pluralistic Jews, I believe that eventually the orthodox will admit women rabbis».
She is the founder of the only active synagogue in Calabria. Who are the people who frequent it and where do they come from?
«The synagogue I founded is called “Ner Tamid del Sud”, which means “the eternal light of southern Italy”. Why this name? Because 500 years ago, before the persecution known as the Inquisition arrived in Southern Italy, 50 percent of the population was Jewish. It was the Inquisition that forced the Jews to accept Christian conversion and to take over the synagogues to turn them into churches. Here, in Serrastretta, the town was founded by five Jewish families who fled persecution that occurred in the municipality of Scigliano. For this reason the Jews chose these isolated mountains to build their new home: Serrastretta. The people who attend the synagogue are the descendants of these persecuted Jews. They are called, in Hebrew, “b'nei anusim”, which means “the descendants of those who were forced into Christian conversion.” Many of those who come to the synagogue are discovering their lost Jewish roots.”
«The synagogue that I have established is called “Ner Tamid del Sud,” which means “the eternal light of southern Italy.” Why this name? Because 500 years ago, before the persecution called the Inquisition arrived in southern Italy, 50 percent of the population was Jewish. It was the Inquisition that forced Jews to accept Christian conversion and appropriated synagogues to make them become churches. Here in Serrastretta the town was founded by five Jewish families that ran from a persecution in the town of Scigliano. For this reason the Jews chose these isolated mountains to make their new home: Serrastretta. The people who frequent the synagogue are the descendants of these persecuted Jews. They are called by the Hebrew phrase, “b'nei anusim,” which means “the descendants of those who were forced into Christian conversion.” Many of those who come to the synagogue are discovering their lost Jewish roots».
How many Jewish communities are present in Calabria and in which areas are they concentrated?
«We found testimonies of Jewish communities throughout Calabria. In addition to the Jewish traditions of Serrastretta, we have ascertained a Jewish presence in Tiriolo, Decollatura, Palmi, Gioia Tauro, Reggio Calabria, Zangarona, Bova Marina, Catanzaro, Cosenza. Overall we have identified 209 Jewish communities throughout Calabria."
«We found evidence of Jewish communities throughout Calabria. In addition to the Jewish traditions of Serrastretta we have ascertained a Jewish presence in Tiriolo, Decollatura, Palmi, Gioia Tauro, Reggio Calabria, Zangarona, Bova Marina, Catanzaro, Cosenza. In total we have identified 209 Jewish communities throughout Calabria".
Why did you choose Serrastretta as a place to live and exercise?
«I didn't choose Serrastretta. Serrastretta chose me. It is the country of my father, my grandparents and great grandparents, which dates back many generations. My father, Antonio Abramo Aiello, fought with the partisans during the Second World War. My great grandfather, Saverio Scalise, was a crypto-Jew, that is, he secretly observed Jewish traditions. It is said that he led Jewish prayers and studied Judaism in the Valley of David in Montreal, Canada, sharing his knowledge with the secret Jews of Serrastretta and other villages in the Reventino area."
«I didn't choose Serrastretta. Serrastretta chose me. It is the village of my father, my grandparents and great grandparents, going back many generations. My father, Antonio Abramo Aiello, fought with the Partisans during WW II. My great grandfather, Saverio Scalise was a crypto-Jew, which means he observed Jewish traditions in secret. It is said that he led Hebrew prayers and that he studied Judaism in Valle di David in Montreal, Canada and shared his learning from him with the secret Jews of Serrastretta and other villages in the Reventino ».
What are the most deeply rooted Jewish traditions in this small village in Calabria?
“Deeply rooted Jewish traditions include lighting a candle or two on Friday evening (the Jewish day of rest called Shabbat); the sound of the “shofar” (ibex horn) at the new year; the construction of a “magen David” (Star of David) on the pavement of the courtyards of the houses. Some Hebrew words are also often used by the local population. They believe they are words from the Calabrian dialect when in reality they are ancient Hebrew words. For example “hametz” means crumbs and “bayta” is a form of “bayit” which in Hebrew means “house”».
«Deeply rooted Jewish traditions include the lighting of one or two candles on Friday evening (the Jewish day of rest called Shabbat), the sounding of the “shofar” (horn of the ibex) at the new year, the construction of a “magen David” (Star of David) in the pavement of the courtyards of their homes. Also some Hebrew words are often used by local people. They believe they are words from the Calabrian dialect when in reality they are ancient Hebrew words. For example “hametz” means breadcrumbs and “bayta” is a form of “bayit” which is Hebrew for “house”».
Which ones, however, have been lost?
«Lost traditions include the wedding canopy for the Jewish wedding, however, in some Catholic ceremonies, we find vestiges of the canopy, called “chuppah”. Laws on food preparation and consumption are also called “kashrut” or “kosher”. Much of the Hebrew language was lost when the Inquisition prohibited the use of the Ladin language. Ladin is the language of the Mediterranean Jews. It's a combination of Spanish and Hebrew."
«Lost traditions include the bridal canopy for the Jewish wedding, however we find vestiges of the canopy, called “chuppah” in some of the Catholic ceremonies. Also the laws of food preparation and eating called “kashrut” or “kosher”. And much of the Hebrew language is lost when the Inquisition prohibited the use of the Ladino language. Ladino is the language of the Mediterranean Jews. It is a combination of Spanish and Hebrew».
What relationship do you have with young people and how do they approach Judaism?
«Many young people approach religion with skepticism. Many other young people, however, are looking for spiritual meaning in their lives. By involving them in all our ceremonies, they learn that they are an important part of the Jewish community. We also offer the called ceremony for teenagers “Bar or Bat Mitzvah”. The boy or girl is called to come forward to read the scroll directly Torah (the Bible in the form of a scroll). This ceremony confers pride in their Jewish heritage."
«Many young people approach religion with scepticism. But many young people are searching for spiritual meaning in their lives. By involving young people in all of our Jewish ceremonies, they learn that they are an important part of the Jewish community. Also for teenage boys and girls, we offer the ceremony called “Bar or Bat Mitzvah”. The teen boy or girl is called to come forward to read directly from the Torah scroll (the bible in scroll form) This ceremony gives them pride in their Jewish heritage».
What is your greatest wish?
«My greatest desire is to continue my commitment to bring the joy of Judaism, which includes Jewish culture and tradition, to Calabrians who have searched for their Jewish roots. I also hope to continue to welcome these secret Jews and “b'nei anusim” in their traditions."
«My greatest wish is to continue my commitment to bring the joy of Judaism which includes Jewish culture and tradition, to Calabrians who have searched for their Jewish roots. Also I hope to continue to welcome these secret Jews and “b'nei anusim” back to their traditions».
She is also an author of books. What other passions do you cultivate?
«Among my passions is writing, which I cultivate every day. I also love my garden, full of flowers and aromatic herbs and I love God's creatures, especially my seven cats!
«My passions include writing, which I enjoying doing every day. I also love my garden, filled with flowers and herbs and I love God's creatures, especially my seven cats!».
(Rabbi Barbara Aiello, Facebook Page)
