Good progress made on ‘digital census’
Project aims to create a bilingual Italian-Hebrew database of about 35,000 volumes, covering Italian-Jewish history over 500 years,
Italian and Israeli archivists are reporting good progress in creating a “digital census” of thousands of texts spanning five centuries and showcasing Italian-Jewish history from the invention of the printing press to the middle of the 20th century.
The I-TAL-YA Books initiative is a collaboration between the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), the National Library of Israel
(pictured), the National Central Library of Rome and the UK-based Rothschild Foundation.
It aims to create a bilingual Italian-Hebrew database of about 35,000 volumes, covering Italian-Jewish history over 500 years, detailing the workings of 14 Italian Jewish communities and 25 state institutions.
The texts are held in the collections of local Jewish communities, state-owned libraries, the Vatican and Italian church institutions, and 2,000 volumes have already been uploaded onto the ‘Teca’ portal of the National Central Library of Rome.
The completed census will offer a window on the history of Italian Jewry.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
