Emmett P.: Ferrara Jewish Ghetto

Today we visited a Jewish historical site called the Ferrara Jewish ghetto. It wasn’t the type of ghetto that you typically think of though. It was a thriving community, but not just for Jews anymore. I learned a lot of information about what life was like in Italy for Jewish people, and I was taught that the Jews were used for their literacy and skills to vastly grow the economy. Despite historic antisemitism, the Jews played a large part in the success of the Ferrara community. 

Rafi T.: Called to a Minyan

During our dinner in the Jewish Ghetto of Venice, a man walked up to our table. My friends and I talked to him for a little while, and then he left. A few minutes later he came back and asked me if I could help him complete a minyan. After saying yes, I followed him outside and then he stopped under a tunnel. There he gave me a thick tiny siddur and opened me to the correct page and when we started praying it was very confusing. They all prayed very fast and it sounded like they were just mumbling. We did the Shemah, Veahavta, Amidah, and said Kaddish. It was very hard to keep up but I felt very cool to be able to pray with all these religious men. It made me feel happy because I was able to help someone do something that was important to them. The men were all very welcoming and it felt nice to be a part of something bigger. I felt accomplished because even though the trip is full of Jewish culture, I feel that doing a minyan makes the trip even more Jewish.

Ezra S.: Culinary Delights

On my trip, I had the opportunity to eat an Italian cultural delicacy known as pizza flavored pringles. These were better than any other food I have had on this trip. They were cheesey, tomatoey, basil-y, and simply delightful. I would like to thank Italy for giving me the opportunity to indulge in such an exquisite culinary experience.