Katie Parla's Rome: The Jewish Ghetto

As far back as the 2nd century B.C.E., Jews have made their home in Rome and represent the oldest Jewish community in the world outside Israel. What we recognize today as Roman Jewish cooking is fruit of universal Jewish dietary guidelines and, perhaps most importantly, the community’s forced isolation into a gated ghetto for 300 years, which resulted in a unique spin on traditional Italian and Jewish cuisine, using what limited ingredients were available. Additionally, the cuisine reflects many outsider influences-result of the Jewish diaspora of the 15th century as direct result of the Spanish Inquisition, and again in the 1960s when thousands of Jews fleeing Libya settled in Rome.

[@TopQ428]

We stayed in the Jewish ghetto while we visited Rome last month I fell in love with everything about this beautiful historic city and country .

[@markelliott6112]

your videos are awesome !!!

[@markdarnell614]

I have been really enjoying your videos on Roma! - so informative, and enlightening...Thank You. I am a Philadelphia-based Musician/Composer/Photographer, who is seriously considering moving to Rome this summer. I feel "called" by the Spirit & Beauty of the city, and it's Culture. Is there a way to send examples of my work (both Images & Music) to you? That would be awesome! Thank You, and keep making these brilliant videos!

[@jeremyhaines4481]

Very interesting x

[@jonandrews3528]

Fascinating

[@johnwu3593]

dunno if what you say is true, but love the way you tell it. i was @ nonna betta, the artichoke was fantastic.

[@yesica7080]

❤

[@martinerozeboom9636]

Are there stumblingstones in the roman getto?

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

❤👍🌎.

[@travelingjohn69]

I'm a Black man that grew up in the ghetto of South Central L.A. I think the Jewish ghetto was more peaceful than mine.

[@pato2200]

That depends on what period you are talking about. And tead about thr legal burdens and humiliations the jews suffered. Very disturbing.

[@allborosnyc4544]

Sorry, but if an an Italian restaurant in Italy don't have pork or pork products i'm not dining there!

[@commamderlimitedmich]

Is it possible you are even more beautiful than in 2007 when you appeared in "cities if the underworld"?

[@FrancescoSantora]

Ok this is good but also weird. Ms. Parla describe Roman Jews and and Sephardi interchangeably, (Thankfully no mention of the Ashkenazi). She definitely knows Roman Jew food is not Sephardic but mixes the history together. The "ghetto" was for Sphardic and Ashkenazi who refused to accept Roman Jewish rites. On many levels this video adds to the very confusion about Roman Jews that she mentions.

[@KatieParla]

+Francesco Santora Hi Francesco! You are mistaken, I'm afraid. the Ghetto was the home for thousands of Jews practicing both the Roman as well as Sephardic rites. It was created for, among other reasons, to separate the entire Jewish community of rome (and later the whole of the Papal States) from the rest of Rome's Catholic population. There's a very good book on the Ghetto that addresses the composition of the Ghetto's residents, including the arrival of Jews from Spain and Sicily in the late 15th century and their subsequent assimilation by the local Roman community. If you can, check it out. It's called Il Ghetto di Roma nel '500 and it is by scholar Kenneth Stowe.

[@FrancescoSantora]

Katie Parla Your statement factually incorrect, the ghettos was specifically for Jews who followed the the traditions of the pharisees. It is true Pharisees can come from any sect of Jews. However the Roman Rite Jews, such as those depicted on the Arch of Titus, are not Pharisees but from the Sadducee tradition many of whom were/are Patricians of Rome, along with emperors, cardinals and popes claim to originate from. Most the references to Jews, and probably the original meaning of the word, are referring to the Pharisees. Example, Titus Flavius Josephus born Joseph ben Matityahu. The Roman Jewish wars were Roman Sadducees removing the Pharisees from Judea. This is plainly stated in ancient Roman histories.

[@RunesandReapers]

I also don't know where you attained your information regarding Sadducee Jews fighting the Pharisees and the relation of Cardinals and popes to them. Maybe there is some sort of alternate history that I am not aware of. But the Roman Jewish wars, were just that. Romans who conquered the middle east and had constant rebellions from the Jews in what they called Palestine.

[@FrancescoSantora]

Apparently there is an alternate history because you are the first person I've discussed this issue with who did not know about the Sadducee Pharisee conflict. Also, the term Roman usually referred to citizenship. There were plenty of Roman Hebrews in Rome. Those Roman Hebrews did not like Herod Antipas. The Roman Legions were raised and commanded by Roman Hebrews and converts, including Vespasian who was a convert and commanded in return for Hebrew political support.

[@RunesandReapers]

I never said there was no conflict between sadducee and pharisee. We are talking the Roman jewish wars which involved the Romans specifically the three major rebellions. You are conflating the civil war that took place but it was a civil war not rome vs judea. Vespasian never converted to judaism. On top of it all when the final revolt was ended the Romans placed their gods as a victory. Saducee jews were still in the end jews they embraced Roman culture but they were not about to burn down the temple either.

[@dbstooge]

Da Giggetto is just fina and Nonna Betta had THE worst service I've ever experienced in Europe. Angry waiter for no reason.

[@romandarius6041]

If there are no Italians in Israel, the Jews have no right to complain.

[@robertk2007]

You’re an idiot

[@yagilon]

Ma che cazzo voi?

[@martinerozeboom9636]

Explanations please! Else you’re an idiot

[@romandarius6041]

@@martinerozeboom9636 Israel maintains a Jewish Only immigration policy. Yet, Jews like Barbara Lerner Spectre immigrate to other countries to try and convince the people there to change the racial make-up of their countries. Barbara Lerner Spectre is now in Israel telling the Jewish People that this land was given to them by God and must remain Jewish

[@kelrogers8480]

What an idiot!

[@jonandrews3528]

Fascinating