The First & The Last Ghetto

In some places, the weight of the history is almost palpable and same goes for words which carry on a whole universe of past events, hidden in its meaning. Before the word Ghetto became a symbol, a metaphor, it reffered to a specific geographical place—a small square, surrounded by water, in Venice. In honour of the 500th anniversary since the establishment of Jewish Ghetto of Venice, the Consulate General of Italy in Shanghai in cooperation with the Hongkou District and the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum organized an event, that put into relation the Jewish legacy of two cities: Venice and Shanghai. The conference hosted at the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum is a part of the high-profile activities promoted worldwide by the Committee «500 years of the Jewish Ghetto of Venice». This program not only aims to share precious cultural and ethical lessons, but brings up the broader question of cross-cultural dialogue.

You may have walked by the notable building in grey-red bricks on Changyang road, knowing only fragments of the role it had played for thousands of people fleeing the tragedy. But presenting the cultural and historical heritage of the Jewish settlements, the conference unveiled a deeper, shared story, which brings Shanghai and Venice closer together. Distinguished guests has unfolded the story of the word Ghetto and the world it meant for Jewish people, through the history of the very first settlement in Venice, 500 years old now. Centuries back, Ghetto in Venice made it possible for the Jews, who up until that point only had temporary permits, to live in the city on the regular basis. It became a community of diverse traditions, a religious center, a place of many cultural achievements and later the one, that carries a heavy history inseparable from our present and never forgotten.

Half of the millennium since the first Ghetto, it is essential to continue to educate the public on its heritage, and the complex history, unveiled through the connections with other Ghettos, like the one in Shanghai and precious lessons they share.

有一些地方的，每一个角落都在诉说着曾经在那里发生的历史，就像是一些文字，记载着背后所有的故事。以前，'Ghetto'这个词代表了威尼斯一个被水围绕的小广场，而之后被用来特指犹太人的居民区。在2016年犹太人隔离区建立500周年之际，意大利驻上海领事馆携手上海虹口区政府以及上海犹太难民纪念馆，共同举办了这项活动，见证了威尼斯和上海之间因犹太居民而产生的不解之缘。这场国际会议在上海犹太难民纪念馆举行，由“威尼斯犹太人居民区500周年”委员会筹办。这场活动不仅向世界展现了那段时期独有的文化及思想，更是为今后跨文化合作奠定了更坚定的文化基础。

你或许走过长阳路上，经过那座著名的灰红色砖块砌成的建筑，知道它象征着当时成千上万人的逃难悲剧。这一场会议向世界呈现了犹太人居住区的文化及历史遗产，透过这些将上海和威尼斯更紧密地联系在一起。各位尊贵的来宾更是展现了犹太人区这五百年发展历史，从威尼斯到上海的不同的故事，揭示了这个地方对于犹太人特殊的意义。几个世纪之前，犹太人得以在威尼斯那个小广场上生活，到后来在上海这样的城市居住。它标志着一个多样文化的城市，一个成就了不同文化的城市，谱写着那些我们永不会忘记的历史篇章。

犹太人区五百年的历史，从威尼斯一路来到上海，值得我们不断传承这一段历史背后的文化。