Palermo church returned to Jewish community

Five hundred years after the edict that expelled the Jews from Sicily, the Jews of Palermo will take possession again of a synagogue that was transformed into a church. The Oratory of Santa Maria del Sabato is situated in what was the ancient Jewish quarter and was active until 1492. The gesture of reconciliation was decided by the Archbishop of Palermo Corrado Lorefice after a request had been made by Evelyne Aouate, president of the Sicilian Institute for Jewish Studies.

“The name of God must not divide but rather create bridges,” said Lorefice. “This is an act of hope,” said Noemi Di Segni, President of the Union of Jewish Communities.