History of the Jews in Sicily
Encyclopedia
The history of the Jews
in Sicily
goes back two millennia. Sicily, (Italian
and Sicilian
: Sicilia, siˈtʃiːlja: in Hebrew סיציליה) is a large island off the Southern Italian
coast. There has been a Jewish presence in Sicily for at least 1400 years and possibly for more than 2000 years. Some scholars believe that the Sicilian Jewry are partial ancestors of the Ashkenazi Jews
.
and Catania
. In the sixth century, communications were sent to Pope Gregory I
about the plight of the Jews in the Kingdom of Sicily
. In 1210, the Jews of Sicily faced so much persecution from Crusaders
that Frederick II
had to intervene on behalf of the Jews. Persecution of the Jews continued and in 1392 the Jews were ordered to live in ghettos. Despite persecution,the Sicilian Jews continued to thrive. Some Sicilian Rabbis communicated with Maimonides
posing religious questions.
The culmination of religious persecution finally came with the Expulsion of the Jews from Sicily in 1492. Many of the Sicilian Jewish refugees escaped to neighboring Calabria
where in time they were forced to emigrate again to the rest of Europe
. A significant segment of Sicily's Jewish population were forced to convert to Catholicism and remained in Sicily. These converts were known as neofiti
. Many neofiti remained Crypto-Jews.
There exists to some a popular, although unproven, theory that the Italian dish now known as pizza
was invented by Jews in Sicily.
, has been active on the island and opened a small synagogue in 2008, but he has not yet set up a full time Jewish congregation in Sicily. In addition, Shavei Israel
has expressed in interest in helping to facilitate the Sicilian Bnei Anusim back to Judaism
.
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
goes back two millennia. Sicily, (Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and Sicilian
Sicilian language
Sicilian is a Romance language. Its dialects make up the Extreme-Southern Italian language group, which are spoken on the island of Sicily and its satellite islands; in southern and central Calabria ; in the southern parts of Apulia, the Salento ; and Campania, on the Italian mainland, where it is...
: Sicilia, siˈtʃiːlja: in Hebrew סיציליה) is a large island off the Southern Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
coast. There has been a Jewish presence in Sicily for at least 1400 years and possibly for more than 2000 years. Some scholars believe that the Sicilian Jewry are partial ancestors of the Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
.
Ancient history
The history of the Jews in Sicily begins with the legend of Jewish captive slaves arriving in Sicily in the first century after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE. However, it is generally presumed the Jewish population of Sicily was seeded prior to the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. Rabbi Akiva visited the city of Syracuse during one of his trips abroad.Middle Ages
The Jews lived in many Sicilian cities such as PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
and Catania
Catania
Catania is an Italian city on the east coast of Sicily facing the Ionian Sea, between Messina and Syracuse. It is the capital of the homonymous province, and with 298,957 inhabitants it is the second-largest city in Sicily and the tenth in Italy.Catania is known to have a seismic history and...
. In the sixth century, communications were sent to Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I
Pope Gregory I , better known in English as Gregory the Great, was pope from 3 September 590 until his death...
about the plight of the Jews in the Kingdom of Sicily
Kingdom of Sicily
The Kingdom of Sicily was a state that existed in the south of Italy from its founding by Roger II in 1130 until 1816. It was a successor state of the County of Sicily, which had been founded in 1071 during the Norman conquest of southern Italy...
. In 1210, the Jews of Sicily faced so much persecution from Crusaders
Crusaders
The Crusaders are a New Zealand professional rugby union team based in Christchurch that competes in the Super Rugby competition. They are the most successful team in Super Rugby history with seven titles...
that Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
had to intervene on behalf of the Jews. Persecution of the Jews continued and in 1392 the Jews were ordered to live in ghettos. Despite persecution,the Sicilian Jews continued to thrive. Some Sicilian Rabbis communicated with Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
posing religious questions.
The culmination of religious persecution finally came with the Expulsion of the Jews from Sicily in 1492. Many of the Sicilian Jewish refugees escaped to neighboring Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
where in time they were forced to emigrate again to the rest of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. A significant segment of Sicily's Jewish population were forced to convert to Catholicism and remained in Sicily. These converts were known as neofiti
Neofiti
The neofiti were a group of Italian anusim, also known as crypto-Jews, living in Southern Italy.-History:The Jewish ancestors of the neofiti were forced to convert to Roman Catholicism in 1493. They continued to secretly practice certain elements of Judaism, however, as did many of their descendants...
. Many neofiti remained Crypto-Jews.
There exists to some a popular, although unproven, theory that the Italian dish now known as pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
was invented by Jews in Sicily.
Modern times
Rabbi Stephano Di Mauro, an Italian American descendant of southern Italian neofitiNeofiti
The neofiti were a group of Italian anusim, also known as crypto-Jews, living in Southern Italy.-History:The Jewish ancestors of the neofiti were forced to convert to Roman Catholicism in 1493. They continued to secretly practice certain elements of Judaism, however, as did many of their descendants...
, has been active on the island and opened a small synagogue in 2008, but he has not yet set up a full time Jewish congregation in Sicily. In addition, Shavei Israel
Shavei Israel
Shavei Israel is an Israeli-based Jewish organization that reaches out to descendants of Jews around the world and aims to strengthen their connection with Israel and the Jewish people. Founded by Michael Freund, Shavei Israel locates lost Jews and hidden Jewish communities and assists them with...
has expressed in interest in helping to facilitate the Sicilian Bnei Anusim back to Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
.
See also
- History of the Jews in ItalyHistory of the Jews in ItalyThe history of the Jews in Italy goes back over two thousand years. Jews have been present in Italy from the Roman period until the present.-Antiquity:-Pre-Christian Rome:...
- History of the Jews in CalabriaHistory of the Jews in CalabriaThe history of the Jews in Calabria reaches back over two millennia. Calabria, Calabria is at the very south of the Italian peninsula, to which it is connected by the Monte Pollino massif, while on the east, south and west it is surrounded by the Ionian and Tyrrhenian seas. Jews have had a presence...
- History of the Jews in Livorno
- History of the Jews in Naples
- History of the Jews in the Roman Empire
- History of the Jews in San MarinoHistory of the Jews in San MarinoThe history of the Jews in San Marino, located within Italy reaches back to the Middle Ages.San Marino is a small land locked country in central Italy. There has been a Jewish presence in San Marino for at least 600 years....
- History of the Jews in Trieste
- History of the Jews in Turin
- History of the Jews in Venice
- Haplogroup G2c (Y-DNA)Haplogroup G2c (Y-DNA)In human genetics, Haplogroup G2c is a Y-chromosome haplogroup and is defined by the presence of the M377 mutation. It is a branch of Haplogroup G, which in turn is defined by the presence of the M201 mutation....