Synagogue of Pitigliano: Difference between revisions

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== History ==

== History ==

[[File:Pitigliano, antico ghetto e sinagoga, sinagoga, interno 01.jpg|left|thumb|Photograph of interior with lecturn and [[Torah ark]]]]

[[File:Pitigliano, antico ghetto e sinagoga, sinagoga, interno 01.jpg|left|thumb|Photograph of interior with lecturn and [[Torah ark]]]]

The Jewish settlement in the city began in the mid-16th century under protection of the [[Orsini family]]. the current synagogue was built in 1598 with contributions from Jewish resident Leone di Sabato.<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |title=COMUNE DI PITIGLIANO |url=https://www.comune.pitigliano.gr.it/index.php?T1=8000 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.comune.pitigliano.gr.it}}</ref> It is located in the historic Jewish quarter of the city, which is characterized by its narrow alleys.

The Jewish settlement in the city began in the mid-16th century under protection of the [[Orsini family]]. the current synagogue was built in 1598 with contributions from Jewish resident Leone di Sabato<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |title=COMUNE DI PITIGLIANO |url=https://www.comune.pitigliano.gr.it/index.php?T1=8000 |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.comune.pitigliano.gr.it}}</ref> It is located in the historic Jewish quarter of the city, which is characterized by its narrow alleys.

The synagogue entrance is under a large arch, which leads to a small courtyard. A plaque inside attributes the creation of the synagogue to Judah son of Shabtai.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=naBtAAAAMAAJ |title=Italia Judaica: “Gli ebrei in Italia tra Rinascimento ed età barocca” : atti del II Convegno internazionale, Genova, 10-15 giugno 1984 |date=1986 |publisher=Ufficio centrale per i beni archivistici, Divisione studi e pubblicazioni |pages=102 |language=it}}</ref> There is an inscription on the front door that says:<blockquote>Italian: E facciano per me un Santuario ed io abiterò in mezzo ad essi. Aprite per me le porte della giustizia. Questa è la porta [che conduce] al Signore.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-15 |title=Sinagoga |url=https://pitigliano.org/la-piccola-gerusalemme/sinagoga/ |access-date=2025-11-25 |language=it-IT}}</ref><br />English: And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst. (Reference to [[Exodus 25]]:8) Open for me the gates of righteousness. This is the Lord’s gate. (Reference to [[Psalm 118]]:19–20)</blockquote>Additionally, there are plaques commemorating visits by Grand Dukes [[Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Ferdinand III]] in 1823 and [[Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Leopold II]] in 1829. Other than those plaques, the internal furnishings, the arch, and the stairway leading to the womens’ section, most aspects of the synagogue are not fully original and were part of later restorations.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belford |first=Ros |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=guMWMVFhqzwC |title=Italy |last2=Dunford |first2=Martin |last3=Woolfrey |first3=Celia |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-060-2 |pages=587 |language=en}}</ref>

The synagogue entrance is under a large arch, which leads to a small courtyard. A plaque inside attributes the creation of the synagogue to Judah son of Shabtai.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=naBtAAAAMAAJ |title=Italia Judaica: “Gli ebrei in Italia tra Rinascimento ed età barocca” : atti del II Convegno internazionale, Genova, 10-15 giugno 1984 |date=1986 |publisher=Ufficio centrale per i beni archivistici, Divisione studi e pubblicazioni |pages=102 |language=it}}</ref> There is an inscription on the front door that says:<blockquote>Italian: E facciano per me un Santuario ed io abiterò in mezzo ad essi. Aprite per me le porte della giustizia. Questa è la porta [che conduce] al Signore.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-15 |title=Sinagoga |url=https://pitigliano.org/la-piccola-gerusalemme/sinagoga/ |access-date=2025-11-25 |language=it-IT}}</ref><br />English: And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst. (Reference to [[Exodus 25]]:8) Open for me the gates of righteousness. This is the Lord’s gate. (Reference to [[Psalm 118]]:19–20)</blockquote>Additionally, there are plaques commemorating visits by Grand Dukes [[Ferdinand III, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Ferdinand III]] in 1823 and [[Leopold II, Grand Duke of Tuscany|Leopold II]] in 1829. Other than those plaques, the internal furnishings, the arch, and the stairway leading to the womens’ section, most aspects of the synagogue are not fully original and were part of later restorations.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Belford |first=Ros |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=guMWMVFhqzwC |title=Italy |last2=Dunford |first2=Martin |last3=Woolfrey |first3=Celia |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-060-2 |pages=587 |language=en}}</ref>

The temple contains furnishings dating back mostly to the 16th and 17th centuries. It has been restored many times, including in 1756, in 1835 when the facade was decorated with [[Rococo]] stuccoes, and in 1931. Due to declining use resulting from a dropping Jewish population,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jepson |first=Tim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nw3XLcWmDT4C |title=The Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria |last2=Buckley |first2=Jonathan |last3=Ellingham |first3=Mark |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-055-8 |pages=477 |language=en}}</ref> it was closed in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=il quartiere ebraico |url=http://www.lapiccolagerusalemme.it/Pages/il%20quartiere2.asp |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.lapiccolagerusalemme.it}}</ref> It hadn’t been in much use since 1948, when its [[Torah ark]] was sent to Israel (currently located in the synagogue in Carmiel).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roumani |first=Judith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SRaAEQAAQBAJ |title=Jews in Southern Tuscany during the Holocaust: Ambiguous Refuge |date=2020-12-02 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-9787-9487-0 |pages=176 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nahon |first=Shlomoh Umberto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBh4AAAAIAAJ |title=ארונות קודש ותשמישי קדושה מאיטליה בישראל |date=1970 |publisher=דביר |language=en}}</ref> It was later damaged in a landslide that decade, and sat vacant until its renovation by the municipality, finishing in 1995<ref name=”:0″ /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QNUuAQAAIAAJ |title=Encyclopaedia Judaica Year Book |date=1986 |publisher=Encyclopaedia Judaica. |pages=336 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Concas |first=Roberta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zlQbAQAAMAAJ |title=Toscana: guida a 287 comuni, 100 musei, 2000 chiese, abbazie, templi, sinagoghe attraverso 3000 anni di storia |date=1997 |publisher=Mondadori |isbn=978-88-04-42910-4 |pages=146 |language=it}}</ref> after nearly 10 years of construction.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-03-23 |title=Anniversary of Anniversaries: 400 years since the imposition of the Ghetto in Pitigliano, the “Little Jerusalem” of southern Tuscany, Italy |url=https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2022/03/23/anniversary-of-anniversaries-2-pitigliano/ |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Jewish Heritage Europe |language=en-US}}</ref>

The temple contains furnishings dating back mostly to the 16th and 17th centuries. It has been restored many times, including in 1756, in 1835 when the facade was decorated with [[Rococo]] stuccoes, and in 1931. Due to declining use resulting from a dropping Jewish population,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jepson |first=Tim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nw3XLcWmDT4C |title=The Rough Guide to Tuscany and Umbria |last2=Buckley |first2=Jonathan |last3=Ellingham |first3=Mark |date=2003 |publisher=Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-84353-055-8 |pages=477 |language=en}}</ref> it was closed in .<ref>{{Cite web |title=il quartiere ebraico |url=http://www.lapiccolagerusalemme.it/Pages/il%20quartiere2.asp |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=www.lapiccolagerusalemme.it}}</ref> It hadn’t been in much use since 1948, when its [[Torah ark]] was sent to Israel (currently located in the synagogue in Carmiel).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roumani |first=Judith |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SRaAEQAAQBAJ |title=Jews in Southern Tuscany during the Holocaust: Ambiguous Refuge |date=2020-12-02 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-9787-9487-0 |pages=176 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nahon |first=Shlomoh Umberto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBh4AAAAIAAJ |title=ארונות קודש ותשמישי קדושה מאיטליה בישראל |date=1970 |publisher=דביר |language=en}}</ref> It was later damaged in a landslide that decade, and sat vacant until its renovation by the municipality, finishing in 1995<ref name=”:0″ /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QNUuAQAAIAAJ |title=Encyclopaedia Judaica Year Book |date=1986 |publisher=Encyclopaedia Judaica. |pages=336 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Concas |first=Roberta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zlQbAQAAMAAJ |title=Toscana: guida a 287 comuni, 100 musei, 2000 chiese, abbazie, templi, sinagoghe attraverso 3000 anni di storia |date=1997 |publisher=Mondadori |isbn=978-88-04-42910-4 |pages=146 |language=it}}</ref> after nearly 10 years of construction.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-03-23 |title=Anniversary of Anniversaries: 400 years since the imposition of the Ghetto in Pitigliano, the “Little Jerusalem” of southern Tuscany, Italy |url=https://jewish-heritage-europe.eu/2022/03/23/anniversary-of-anniversaries-2-pitigliano/ |access-date=2025-11-25 |website=Jewish Heritage Europe |language=en-US}}</ref>

The synagogue and its adjacent museum are open for visitors on all days except for the [[Shabbat|Sabbath]]. It is not used very often due to an inability to get a [[minyan]].<ref name=”:0″ /> An 18th-century [[Hannukiah]] from the synagogue is on display in the Italian Synagogue in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nahon |first=Shlomoh Umberto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBh4AAAAIAAJ |title=ארונות קודש ותשמישי קדושה מאיטליה בישראל |date=1970 |publisher=דביר |pages=XXVI |language=}}</ref> The archives of the Jewish University were found in the rubble of the synagogue in the mid-20th century, and are currently held at the [[Rome|Roman]] headquarters for the [[Union of Italian Jewish Communities]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schmelz |first=Usiel Oskar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIcLAQAAIAAJ |title=Papers in Jewish Demography, 1977: Proceedings of the Demographic Sessions Held at the 7th World Congress of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, August 1977 |last2=Glikson |first2=Paul |last3=Pergola |first3=Sergio Della |date=1980 |publisher=Institute of Contemporary Jewry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem |pages=36 |language=en}}</ref>

The synagogue and its adjacent museum are open for visitors on all days except for the [[Shabbat|Sabbath]]. It is not used very often due to an inability to get a [[minyan]].<ref name=”:0″ /> An 18th-century [[Hannukiah]] from the synagogue is on display in the Italian Synagogue in [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Nahon |first=Shlomoh Umberto |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pBh4AAAAIAAJ |title=ארונות קודש ותשמישי קדושה מאיטליה בישראל |date=1970 |publisher=דביר |pages=XXVI |language=}}</ref> The archives of the Jewish University were found in the rubble of the synagogue in the mid-20th century, and are currently held at the [[Rome|Roman]] headquarters for the [[Union of Italian Jewish Communities]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schmelz |first=Usiel Oskar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QIcLAQAAIAAJ |title=Papers in Jewish Demography, 1977: Proceedings of the Demographic Sessions Held at the 7th World Congress of Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, August 1977 |last2=Glikson |first2=Paul |last3=Pergola |first3=Sergio Della |date=1980 |publisher=Institute of Contemporary Jewry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem |pages=36 |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[List of synagogues in Italy]]

== References ==

== References ==

<references />{{Synagogues in Italy|state=expanded}}{{Authority control}}[[:Category:16th-century synagogues in Italy]]

<references />{{Synagogues in Italy|state=expanded}}{{Authority control}}

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[[:Category:1598 establishments in Italy]]

[[Category: in Italy]]

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[[Category:1598 establishments in Italy]]

Synagogue in Pitigliano, Italy

The Synagogue of Pitigliano (Italian: Sinagoga di Pitigliano) is a Jewish synagogue located in Pitigliano, Italy.

History

The Jewish settlement in the city began in the mid-16th century under protection of the Orsini family. the current synagogue was built in 1598 with contributions from Jewish resident Leone di Sabato,^[2] a weaver.^[3] It is located in the historic Jewish quarter of the city, which is characterized by its narrow alleys.

The synagogue entrance is under a large arch, which leads to a small courtyard. A plaque inside attributes the creation of the synagogue to Judah son of Shabtai.^[4] There is an inscription on the front door that says:

Italian: E facciano per me un Santuario ed io abiterò in mezzo ad essi. Aprite per me le porte della giustizia. Questa è la porta [che conduce] al Signore.^[5]
English: And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst. (Reference to Exodus 25:8) Open for me the gates of righteousness. This is the Lord’s gate. (Reference to Psalm 118:19–20)

Additionally, there are plaques commemorating visits by Grand Dukes Ferdinand III in 1823 and Leopold II in 1829, and one by Leopold II (later the Holy Roman Emperor) in 1773.^[6] Other than those plaques, the internal furnishings, the arch, and the stairway leading to the womens’ section, most aspects of the synagogue are not fully original and were part of later restorations.^[7]

The temple contains furnishings dating back mostly to the 16th and 17th centuries. It has been restored many times, including in 1756 (after a roof collapse),^[8] in 1835 when the facade was decorated with Rococo stuccoes, and in 1931. Due to declining use resulting from a dropping Jewish population,^[9] it was closed in 1956.^[10] It hadn’t been in much use since 1948, when its Torah ark was sent to Israel (currently located in the synagogue in Carmiel).^[11][12] It was later damaged in a landslide that decade, and sat vacant until its renovation by the municipality, finishing in 1995^[2][13][14] after nearly 10 years of construction.^[15]

The synagogue and its adjacent museum are open for visitors on all days except for the Sabbath.^[16] It is not used very often due to an inability to get a minyan.^[2] An 18th-century Hannukiah from the synagogue is on display in the Italian Synagogue in Jerusalem.^[17] The archives of the Jewish University were found in the rubble of the synagogue in the mid-20th century, and are currently held at the Roman headquarters for the Union of Italian Jewish Communities.^[18]

See also

References