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The Embassy of Italy in Israel The Roman Aqueduct, Caesarea. photo by Duby Tal, Albatross Special Issue June, 2, 2005 The Embassy ofItalyinIsrael The Embassy ITALY IN ISRAEL TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Italy and Israel: a Longstanding Partnership with a Great Future Sandro De Bernardin, Ambassador of Italy in Israel 3 The Mediterranean Role of Italy A.B. Yehoshua THE ITALIAN LEGACY IN ISRAEL 6 The Relationship throughout History Simonetta Della Seta 8 The Holy Land through the Eyes of Italian Travellers Michele Piccirillo 11 Tracking Traces of Italy Eric Salerno 13 The Significant Presence of the Italian Jewish Community Sergio Della Pergola The Trade Tower In Tel Aviv 15 The Story of Forty Italian Synagogues housing the Embassy David Cassuto of Italy in Israel PRESENT DAY 20 The Love for Italian Language PROJECT AND PRODUCTION Edoardo Crisafulli The Embassy of Italy in Israel 22 The Literary Embrace Lucio Izzo EDITORIAL COORDINATION 24 A Dynamic Economic Exchange Simonetta Della Seta Alessandro Cattaneo and Mauro Poli 26 The Attraction of Israeli Businesses to the Italian Market ADVERTISING COORDINATION Ronni Benatoff Alessandro Cattaneo 28 InvestInItaly, a New Reference Point for Israeli Investors GRAPHICS Massimo Caputi Enrico Attas 29 The Boost of Scientific Cooperation Guglielmo Castro PHOTOGRAPHY 31 A Dialogue on Security Luca Franchetti Pardo and Alessandro Veltri Visions of the Land Archive Garo Nalbandian 34 Two Italian Archaeological Expeditions Ermanna Clemente di San Luca Albatross U. Nahon Museum A SHORT GUIDE TO ITALIAN SERVICES IN ISRAEL Embassy of Italy in Israel 39 The Consular Services The Embassy of Italy 42 The Italian Business Desk in Israel wishes to thank: Duby Tal –Albatross 44 The Italian Cultural Institute Visions of the Land Archive 44 Learning Italian U. Nahon Museum The Schools of the Italian Cultural Institute The Italian Courses at Israeli Universities PRINTED IN ISRAEL 2005 The Dante Alighieri Society 45 Amitei Italia Association 46 Italian Hospitals 47 Other Institutions The U. Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art Irgun Olei Italia Beit Wizo Italia ITALY IN ISRAEL Italy and Israel: a Longstanding Partnership with a Great Future o be Ambassador of Italy in Israel is a nice experience. Not only because of the beauty of the country, its cultural charme, its religious appeal, the sympathy that Israelis generally show to Italians, the links that history has established between our two peoples, the awareness of the values they have in common, or the importance of political commitments shared by the two Governments. Indeed, beyond all these, other factors contribute to make my job particularly interesting. Economic links are already significant, but rely mainly on commercial relations: hence the prospect of fostering direct investments and industrial cooperation. Cultural curiosity is another field which deserves to be intensified, in order to allow the Israeli public to go beyond a “classical” (or folkloric) knowledge of Italy: hence the need for presenting more aspects of contemporary Italian culture and the Italian way of life. More and more Israelis are eager to learn Italian: hence the opportunity for increasing the number and quality of our language courses. Potential for synergy often appears with regard to scientific and technological cooperation: hence the commitment to facilitating contacts and joint projects. The Israeli community of Italian origin plays an impressive role in facilitating mutual understanding: hence the moral obligation of appreciating this role. Our relationship is based on solid ground. It is worthwhile mentioning that the dialogue between Judaism and Italy has existed continuously, for two thousand years, ever since the first Jewish community settled in Rome before the Diaspora. Italians solidly supported Aliyah Bet, thus contributing to the birth of the State of Israel. As a matter of fact, when asked to indicate which country is “a real friend” of Israel in Europe, most Israelis mention Italy first (and many agree that the period of the Italian Presidency of the European Union allowed a breakthrough in their relationship). In the last few years Italy has been one of the most outspoken advocates of the security needs of Israel. The two Governments have been working closely in order to catalyse an effective response of the International Community against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They significantly increased political consultations. They devoted particular efforts to counter a resurgence of anti-Semitism (in 2004, for example, Italy took over the Presidency of the International Task Force for the Awareness of the Shoah). They were active in bilateral cooperation in various fields, ranging from telecom to environment, from the judiciary to agriculture, from health to the fight against organised crime. The diversity of our relationship is related not only to the number of areas of common interest, but also to the number of levels concerned. It does not only apply to the governmental dimension, but also involves regional authorities, municipalities, private institutions, research centres, NGOs, and confessional groups. In other words, the two societies maintain an intense and fruitful dialogue. But old and well-established relationships need to be continuously nourished. Just like any friendship and even any marriage, they have to be kept alive and fresh under changing circumstances. The work of an Embassy is largely to detect new opportunities and to ensure that they are seized. As a matter of fact, both Italy and Israel are engaged in a process of significant change – particularly in reviewing some aspects of their economic structures (taxation, welfare, role of the State as entrepreneur) – in order to cope with the challenges of globalization. Both being modern economies, sound democracies and Mediterranean countries, they can fruitfully exchange experiences and look for new kinds of partnerships. There is also room for improvement in traditional fields, in tourism for instance: according to the latest statistics, 10 % of Israeli tourism is directed to Italy, whereas Italian tourists represent only 3 % of guests in Israel. My staff and I are strongly committed to updating and nourishing the longstanding partnership between Italy and Israel. Yes, we want to secure it a great future! I hope that this magazine will also make a contribution. It opens with some reflections by Avraham B. Yehoshua – whom I thank wholeheartedly – on his personal experience of Italy. The following pages deal with the many facets of the Italian presence in this country: a presence which has the Embassy as the core reference, but encompasses a larger system of entities. Those entities too are presented here: each one of them has a specific role and brings an important contribution to the overall and consistent picture of “Italy in Israel”. I wish to acknowledge the work of all those who contributed to this publication, particularly of Simonetta Della Seta, who, with the assistance of her staff in the Italian Cultural Institute, ensured the editorial coordination. The aim of this initiative is not only to contemplate the road we have already traveled together. I sincerely hope that, by spreading a better awareness of what Italy represents for Israel, it will also encourage the successful continuation of our work, hand in hand. Sandro De Bernardin, Ambassador of Italy to Israel ITALY IN ISRAEL The Role of Italy by Abraham B. Yehoshua In many ways, it is one of my France it was different. And the same dreams. It became clear the first time I thing happened to us when we arrived visited Sicily. I have said it many times: in Italy. A completely different experience we have to create a Mediterranean Nalbandian Garo from the one we knew from synagogues. identity and the centre must be Sicily. At first sight, Italy was similar to Italy must be the driving force, since this France. The Italians were like the French is a thing that only Italy can do. To build but a little more gentle. And then we a Mediterranean identity, in which part discovered a new reality. First of all, the of Europe, and Sicily is situated at this continuous presence of Roman ruins. edge, part of North Africa, part of the In the beginning, it was something we Arab culture, of the Christian culture, did not know how to cope with. It of the Jewish culture, will gather to share resembled Jerusalem, but, of course, and develop a common heritage. went much beyond. Suddenly we could This is what we have to do. We are Abraham B. Yehoshua see the beauty emerging, in a certain Mediterranean and in this sense I see Italy gaining a crucial way, from chaos. The combination of old and modern, of role in the region, and in the peace process, by supporting the Roman ruins and the streets of today. Yehoshua Kenaz, it through the strengthening of a Mediterranean identity. By my dear friend, used to say that genius comes from the creating a Mediterranean Centre, a Mediterranean Italians: it’s the genius of art. The French have only Parliament. A Parliament of Mediterranean delegates active structured it. in Sicily. The right place for all of us. As there is the European Another interesting discovery was the decentralization Union in Brussels, there must be a Mediterranean Centre, of Italy. Mantua, Palermo, Bologna, Naples... every city is which will include European countries such as Spain and a kingdom to itself. Each one is competing in history, in Greece, but also Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, heritage, in beauty, in art. Each one is a system by itself. Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and, of course, Israel. This is the So that every time you meet a different Italy, a different cradle of humanity. I see this as Italy's role for this century. piece of the mosaic. I remember coming to Milan and then The role of modern Italy, of European Italy.
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