‘Mediterranean of Peace’, the Lecce Jewish Museum away in Rome to promote dialogue

The event was preceded by a press conference in the Chamber of Deputies in the presence of the Hon. Claudio StefanazziDeputy in the Chamber for the Democratic Party, Aldo PatrunoGeneral Manager of Tourism and Culture Puglia Region, RAV Riccardo di Segni Chief rabbi of Rome, Michelangelo MazzottaCEO Jewish museum of Lecce together with Francesco De Giorgi, Fabrizio LelliDirector of the Jewish Museum of Lecce, TURMENTIES TASTcurator shows to err, persevere, survive and Fabrizio GhioArchitect and member of the Scientific Committee of the Jewish Museum of Lecce.

Promoter of the “trip” the Hon. Stefanazzi: “Puglia and the Mediterranean – said Stefanazzi – are identity places. And it is precisely the simplicity with which, those who visit it, can recognize its history, culture and its traditions to constitute the foundation of the success that our land has in recent years as a tourist destination. All this has been made possible by a huge effort of the Apulian political and civil community of critical analysis of its roots. and religious who, ultimately, represent the authentic peculiar of the region. Splendid setting of Montecitorio, is committed daily to revive the importance of this story. A story that today, in a moment of painful conflicts, can tell, through art, even in the places of our institutions. The hope is that art and beauty can, together with memory, help humanity to understand the ultimate and real reasons for solidarity and dialogue “.

A large showcase for the Puglia Region, as he pointed out Aldo Patruno: “Puglia Region is increasingly proud that its museum and cultural institutions go beyond regional borders, accessing prestigious places of art, culture and, in this case, of democratic institutions. With an offer, however, which aims to enhance the” Mediterranean “and” mixed “identity of Puglia, always a land of crossings, contamination, reception, meetings of cultures, civilizations, religions, construction, construction. of bridges and, therefore, of peace.

At the conference, also greetings of the RAV Riccardo di SegniChief rabbi of Rome: “I am happy that we talk about the Jewish presence in Puglia and what is being done in this region to recover the memory of the Jewish presence. Puglia was a place of great passage and culture. The Jews landed from the East in Brindisi, they stopped or went up to the Via Appia or, again, they went down to Lecce. It was a region of vivid culture. I visited the Jewish museum of Lecce and amazed by the effort that has been made to recover the roots buried literally under the surface.

“We wanted to create a bridge between past and present. A place where memory is not something to keep in silence, but to tell, share, make a project that today has become a point of reference not only for Puglia, but also for our city, transforming itself into a pole of attraction for all those who come from all over the world, eager to know this story. It is for all those who believe that culture can be a growth, told Michelangelo Mazzotta retracing the history of the birth of the museum and its intentions.

“The Puglia crossroads of the Mediterranean – Mobility of men, goods and cultures” was presented by the director of the Jewish Museum of Lecce, Fabrizio Lelliand by the architect and archaeologist Fabrizio Ghio. Lelli underlined the importance of this exhibition, which perfectly aligns with the mission of the museum, namely “to create a bridge between cultures to promote peace -, the exhibition constitutes an invitation to reflect on the relationships between the peoples of the Mediterranean, on the challenges of coexistence and on the role of conscious tourism to promote the meeting on the basis of knowledge. Our activity had its success in the conveying of the contributions that until recently were very specific objects University, to convey them to a general public, at the beginning a bet that has been won over time since a real interest has been created around Salento Judaism “, commented Professor Lelli about the exhibition he is curator. “The Jewish Museum of Lecce is proposed as a meeting place between different cultures and visions. The didactic path of our exhibition represents an invitation to the journey and discovering the immense heritage of the Region, through a particular perspective, namely the contributions provided by the different populations and cultures that, over the centuries and up to the contemporary age, have spoken in its territory, with particular attention to the Jewish presence. Passage, a “mestizo” Puglia, just as Patruno said, because this region has a long tradition of confrontation, history and rooted “, added the co-cinger Fabrizio Ghio.

In parallel, the personal “errare, persevere, survive” of the American Jewish artist of Syrian origin was presented, surviving, Lenore Mizrachi-Cohen. Its exposure, curated by TURMENTIES TASTuses Arab calligraphy as a tool to explore the identity and cultural changes of the Jewish people.

The conference was followed by the official inauguration in the Cenacle room where the harp of Eleonora Carbone accompanied visitors to discover the two exhibitions while the interventions of other influential personalities such as the President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities have followed, Noemi of signsand the lawyer Claudio Fanohistorical friend and supporter of the Jewish Museum of Lecce. The evening, combined with the tasting of the wines of Cantine Leuci, has started the exposure that will remain open, free of charge, until April 24. An opportunity open to the public to immerse yourself in a fascinating and more contemporary historical narrative. With this eventIndeed, The Jewish Museum of Lecce reiterates its commitment to promoting intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding, an important step towards a future of peace and collaboration between the different cultures of the Mediterranean.