A great piece of history, an ancient testimony of Biblewas printed in the 15th century in Reggio Calabriaat the time very attentive to the study, knowledge, writing and diffusion of Jewish culture. The reference is to Pentateuch, Rashi’s commentary – most translated French author in the world – printed in 1450 by Avraham Ben Garton. This text, however, is found today in the original a Parma, in the Palatine Library. It was discovered by the scholar and priest Giovanni Bernardo De Rossi and purchased in 1816 by Maria Luigia of Austria, who donated it to the Royal Library of Parma.
The Jewish community is now clamoring for that that text returns to his native citywhere it was printed, namely Reggio Calabria, “as evidence of how much Jewish knowledge, study and writing there was – very rare at the time – in Calabria and to understand from there how much and how Judaism spread to the rest of Italy and Europe”the words of Noemi Di SegniPresident of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, on “Buongiorno Regione”, of TgR Calabria.
He echoes her Klaus Davihighlighting how important a return of this testimony is to the city of the Strait. “The return of the Pentateuch to Reggio, where it was printed in the 15th century, it would be extraordinary for Calabria. Consider that a Bible printed in 1300 was quoted at the starting price of 7 million dollars, so it will be worth at least double. So think how much this manuscript could be worth. My stimulus is addressed to the Minister of Culture Sangiulian and to the Governor Eyedso that this text returns to Calabria, for the international prestige it deserves”.
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