Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By simmons on June 23, 2017

The Reconstructionist movement is adding another affiliate abroad this week, as it welcomes into its ranks a fledging synagogue in the Italian region of Calabria - where before the synagogues foudning, there hadnt been a schul in centuries.

We are thrilled to welcome our first Italian affiliate to our movement, Rabbi Deborah Waxman, head of the Reconstructionist movement, wrote in a statement. Through their heroic efforts to reclaim their Jewish past from painful history, the community members of the community of Sinagoga Ner Tamid del Sud epitomizes Reconstructionist values.

Located in Calabria, Ner Tamid is the first synagogue in the region to operate in the open since the Inquisition, when most Jews either fled or converted. Some of its members are the descendants of Jews who practiced their faith in secret or became Christian. Ner Tamid counts about 80 families in its ranks, according to the Reconstructionist movement.

Barbara Aiello, Italys sole woman rabbi and Ner Tamids spiritual leader, praised the admission into the progressive Reconstructionist movement. As a congregation made up of [people] whose ancestors were forced into adult baptism centuries ago, we feel a particular affinity to the principles upon which Reconstructionist Judaism is based, she said in the press statement.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Read the rest here:

Reconstructionists Add Synagogue In Italy - Third Outside US - Forward

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