Cooking Mistake Number One

By Elana Horwich
Published on April 24, 2013

Choosing tomatoes [VIDEO]

By Elana Horwich
Published on February 27, 2013

Italian Holocaust victims remembered

By Ryan Torok
Published on January 31, 2013

The names of 8,000 Italian Jewish victims of the Holocaust were read aloud on Jan. 25 as part of four area events in honor of Italy’s Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Roman Jewry mourns Italian Muslim leader

Published on June 26, 2012

The Rome Jewish community mourned the death of an Italian Muslim leader who was a key figure in promoting interfaith Jewish-Muslim relations.

Gino Bartali, Italian cycling legend, saved Jews during WWII [VIDEO]

By JewishJournal
Published on June 18, 2012

Gino Bartali is best known as a cycling legend who holds the record for the longest time span between victories at the Tour de France – ten years – a feat made all the more impressive by the Tour’s status as one of most grueling endurance competitions in the world and the fact that Bartali was an old man (by cycling standards) when he made his comeback in 1948. Looking beyond the marvel of his athletic stamina, Bartali’s life provides a powerful lesson in how moral endurance can empower from within.

Italian convert to Islam arrested on terror charges

Published on April 24, 2012

An Italian convert to Islam arrested for suspected links to terrorism was connected to a suspect who planned to bomb Milan's main synagogue.

Delizioso: Chanukah with an Italian flair

By Judy Zeidler
Published on November 18, 2011

While enjoying my favorite foods on a recent trip to Italy, I began to think about Chanukah, even though it was only October. This was a natural association, because the Italians love to prepare foods with olive oil, and the traditional dishes served during Chanukah are fried in oil to commemorate the tiny supply of oil that burned for eight days and nights in the ancient temple — a real miracle.

Jersey Shore vs. Chaz Bono – Who is Classy? Who is Trashy?

By Ilana Angel
Published on September 18, 2011

Punishment of Italian boys includes reading Anne Frank’s diary

Published on August 31, 2011

Two middle schoolers who scrawled a swastika and "Adolf" on a wall near the Venice Jewish cemetery must read "The Diary of Anne Frank" as part of their punishment.

Italian cheeses inspire a unique holiday menu

By Judy Zeidler
Published on May 19, 2011

It all started with Signora Grazia, an elderly cheese maker in Panzano, Italy. While vacationing in this Tuscan village, just 30 minutes south of Florence, we walked by her farm early one morning and saw the sign that read “Pecorino and Fresh Ricotta for Sale.”

Italian priest posthumously named Righteous Among Nations

Published on May 9, 2011

The local priest in a small town in northwest Italy has been named Righteous among Nations for saving a Jewish family during World War II.

Golan Heights Winery takes Italian first prize

Published on April 8, 2011

For the first time, the grand prize at Italy's leading international wine competition has been awarded to an Israeli winery. The Golan Heights Winery, founded in 1983 in Katzrin, beat out 3,720 wines from from more than 1,000 producers in 30 countries to take home the so-called "Wine World Cup" -- the Gran Vinitaly Special Award granted ahead of Italy's annual Vinitaly wine trade fair in Verona, one of Europe's top wine events, which opens Friday.

Talmud to be translated into Italian

Published on January 21, 2011

The Talmud will be translated for the first time into Italian thanks to an official collaboration between the Italian government and the Italian Jewish community. A protocol launching "Project Talmud" was signed Friday in Rome by cabinet ministers, the president of Italy's National Research Council, the president of the umbrella Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) and Rome's chief rabbi. The project foresees the translation of the original Aramaic version of the Babylonian Talmud, with commentaries, as well as an introductory volume about the structure, contents and language of the Talmud.

Italian leaders decry list of ‘influential’ Italian Jews

Published on January 12, 2011

Italian leaders expressed anger and solidarity with the Jewish community after a neo-Nazi Internet forum published a list of "influential" Italian Jews on its website. The Italian media Wednesday called the list on the American white supremacist website Stormfront "a blacklist of hate." The list included journalists, businesspeople, politicians, artists and others. Politicians denounced the Stormfront posting and called for action against online hatred. The list "reminds us of the most shameful page in our history when, based on similar lists, thousands of Italians were expelled from schools, universities and workplaces and were deprived of citizenship and persecuted," Nicola Zingaretti, president of the Province of Rome, said in a statement.

‘Tree of Life’ explores history of Italian Jews

Published on October 16, 2008

Why had he never talked about his feelings for Italy? Who were his ancestors, and what had it meant to him to be an Italian Jew? And what might it come to mean to his daughter?

Surprise lesson lurks in show of painters’ works

By Morris Newman
Published on October 5, 2006

The paintings of Philip Guston and Giorgio de Chirico.

Iconic Italian journalist, Oriana Fallaci, 77

Published on September 21, 2006

Obituary for crusading Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci.

Spectator - ‘Soprano’ Sings on Jewish Couch

By Ami Eden
Published on April 6, 2006

A month into the new and perhaps final season of "The Sopranos," it's high time to consider our favorite TV mobster's predilection for Jews. Of course, "The Sopranos" features its share of corrupt Jews as well as several marginally anti-Semitic wiseguys. Yet Tony Soprano has evinced a decidedly philosemitic streak.

Spectator - A Sane Italian Jew? Fugedaboutit

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on March 30, 2006

An adept impressionist, Solomon imitates his Old World Italian and Jewish relatives, as well as Jamaicans, Indian taxi drivers, pet dogs, even metal detectors. While many comedians draw upon the clashes between their parents, few would characterize them as Solomon does in a phone interview -- "the cup is half-full for my dad; for my mom, it's half-empty with poison in it."

‘Little Flower’ Could Help Antonio Bloom

By Joel Kotkin
Published on May 26, 2005

I imagine you are enjoying the hoopla surrounding your election. As the first Latino chief executive in more than 130 years, it may be tempting to bask in the warmth of a great ethnic triumph.

But don't enjoy it too much. Los Angeles does not need a symbol or an icon; it needs a mayor, one who can be both decisive and effective. We need less rah-rah and more Fiorello La Guardia.

Festival Flick Honors Righteous Italian

By Tom Tugend
Published on March 17, 2005

The most famous of the rescuers, Raoul Wallenberg of Sweden, has been honored as embodying the Righteous Gentile. Some have also heard of the noble work of Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz.

Almost unknown is , an Italian, credited with sheltering and sustaining some 5,200 Jews from November 1944 until the liberation by Soviet troops in January 1945.

His story is now told in the film "Perlasca, The History of a True Man," which will screen Sunday, March 20, at the Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills, as part of the weeklong Hungarian Film Festival.

Community Briefs

Published on March 27, 2003

Community Briefs

Marriage, Italian Style!

By Michael Aushenker
Published on February 20, 2003

Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services is throwing "A Big Fat Italian Wedding" on March 1 to raise money for its Presidents Club, a group that helps troubled teens through dinners, sporting events and awards nights.

The Other Venice

By Marilyn Zeitlin
Published on November 14, 2002

Venice is the famous city of romance, where boatmen serenade visitors with operatic arias in gondolas that glide through canals under charming bridges. Old buildings reflect in the water like an impressionist canvas of shimmering colors. Pink, red and orange blossoms hang from flower boxes on apartment windowsills, reflected in the water as exotic water lilies.

Quackenbush’s Crusade

By Tom Tugend
Published on December 9, 1999

In two days of hearings (Dec. 1 & 2) on Holocaust-era insurance policies, California's insurance commissioner threatened to penalize a German and an Italian insurer for non-cooperation, while reaching agreements with three Dutch companies.

Life’s Ironies are Beautiful

By Ruth Stroud
Published on April 8, 1999

For Italian expatriates Lotte Katz Singer of Beverly Hills and Ann Signett of the San Fernando Valley, life is surprising as well as beautiful.