Bookstore Glossary Library Links News Publications Timeline Virtual Israel Experience
Anti-Semitism Biography History Holocaust Israel Israel Education Myths & Facts Politics Religion Travel US & Israel Vital Stats Women
donate subscribe Contact About Home

Spoleto

SPOLETO, town in central Italy. A Jewish community possibly existed in Spoleto before 1298 when the distinguished Roman family De *Pomis settled there after the head of the family, Elijah, was condemned to death by the Holy Office. In the 15th century the principal activity of the Jewish community in Spoleto was moneylending. The notable Spoleto Jews included the physicians David De' Pomis (1525–88) and Moses *Alatino (1529–1605). The Jews were expelled from Spoleto and the rest of the Papal States by Pius V in 1569. Some returned for a brief period under Sixtus V (1587). There is still in Spoleto the Church of S. Gregorio della Sinagoga.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Roth, Italy, index; Milano, Italia, index; Ravà, in: Annali di Statistica, 9 (1884), 201–8.


Sources: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2007 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.