Background Information:

Rabbi Barbara Aiello is Italy’s first female rabbi and the spiritual leader of Calabria’s first and only active synagogue in 500 years since the Inquisition. Having come to Italy 20 years ago, she initially served Milan’s first modern liberal Jewish community before founding Sinagoga Ner Tamid del Sud (“Eternal Light of Southern Italy”) in Serrastretta—the village of her father, Antonio Abramo Aiello. Rabbi Barbara traces her roots back to Spain, where her ancestors were expelled in 1492.

When asked who might benefit from this excursion, Rabbi Barbara explains:
"[Jewish] participants will gain insight into lost and isolated Jewish communities, strengthening Jewish identity. It’s eye-opening to discover the resilience of southern Italian Jews who, despite forced Christian conversion, preserved their traditions in secret for centuries."

Italian-Americans often find this journey especially meaningful, as many trace their ancestry to Calabria—a region once home to a thriving Jewish population that made up nearly 50% of the community.