Jews of San Nicandro
The Jews of San Nicandro (also called San Nicandro Jews) are a small community of Jews from San Nicandro Garganico, Italy. The San Nicandro Jews are descended from local Gentile families from the 15th century. Beginning in the late 1920s, the community developed as a result of the conversion of Donato Manduzio, a crippled World War I veteran who was inspired by his own reading of the Bible. He soon converted a number of his neighbors. By 1949, most of the San Nicandro Jews emigrated to Israel.[1] Today the remaining Jews worship in the historic Scolanova Synagogue, in the neighboring town of Trani, Apulia.
The Jewish community of San Nicandro is featured in the documentary The Mystery of San Nicandro, which began filming in Italy in 2011. The film is produced by Toronto-based Matter of Fact Media.
References
- ↑ Michael Brenner,A Short History of the Jews, Princeton University Press 2010 p.363,
- Pinchas Lapide: The Prophet of San Nicandro. NY: Beechurst Press, 1953. Italian survivors of the War who, under the inspiration of Donato Manduzio, became Jewish and emigrated to Israel. 8vo 240 pages. (129900)
- Davis, John Anthony. The Jews of San Nicandro Yale University Press (October 26, 2010) 252 pages ISBN 978-0300114256
- Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund press release regarding the funding of The Mystery of San Nicandro.
External links
- The Converts of San Nicandro Time (magazine) Posted Monday, Sep. 15, 1947.
- UConn Annual Report for 2004– 2005 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR & ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
- Matter of Fact Media Projects page
- The Mystery of San Nicandro documentary website