The Jews of Venice

What was it like to be a Jewish citizen in Venice between their settlement there in the 16th century to the end of World War II? From the beginning, the rules that governed Jewish life in the ghetto—a Venetian word—contrasted greatly with those outside the quarter. Historian Monica Chojnacka highlights the complicated history of the Venetian Jews and places it in the context of greater European history. She describes how the livelihoods of Jews were shaped by the economic and political agendas of the city government as well as the Catholic Church. Chojnacka also explores how their lives were dramatically altered under Fascism and the Nazi occupation of the city in WWII.

Though greatly reduced in number today, Venice’s Jews are still a vibrant part of the city.

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