Jews have been in Italy since the second century BCE when the Maccabees defeated the Hellenizing powers in Jerusalem and made a treaty with pre-empire Rome. Since then, for over two millennia, their settlement in the Italian Peninsula has been continuous. Over the centuries their status and settlement has changed based on the ruling powers. Additionally, Jewish communities from Spain, North Africa, and Iran have found refuge in Italy. Still, the two-millennia old community kept its unique traditions to this day.


Service Section: Holidays, Chanukah 
Source: InstituteofJewishExperience.org