The Italian Senate has adopted a sweeping law that guarantees religious freedom for Jews and sets out the rules for relations between the government and the Jewish community.
The Senate, in an overwhelming vote last week, replaced earlier legislation that had governed relations between the state and the Jewish community dating back to the Fascist era of the early 1930s.
The new laws, seen as long overdue in this Catholic country, were unanimously approved by the Chamber of Deputies in January. The Senate vote was nearly unanimous — there was one abstention.
Senate President Giovanni Spadolini called the legislation “a significant measure that consolidates the republican tradition of reciprocal respect among diverse religious faiths.”
The legislation, which will be enacted into practice over the next two years, is embodied in 34 articles. It stems from an agreement signed two years ago by the government and the Jewish community here.
Generally speaking, the legislation codifies “the right to freely profess and practice the Jewish religion, individually and in groups, to publicize it and to exercise its cult and rites.”
RIGHT NOT TO WORK ON SABBATH
But the new law is specific and respectful of the Jewish religion, dealing with the fine points of Jewish religious observance.
It guarantees recognition of marriages as performed by rabbis.
The new law also recognizes the full right of Jews to observe the Sabbath, “from half an hour before sunset Friday to an hour after sunset Saturday,” as well as Jewish holidays.
Jews — and even Jewish soldiers — are thereby guaranteed the right to take off Saturdays, if requested. Any work missed Saturdays, however, would have to be made up.
Likewise, Jewish students will not be required to attend school on Saturday — a normal schoolday in Italy — if their parents so petition the school authorities.
Nor will Jewish students be required to attend Catholic classes given in public schools.
The law makes clear, too, that there shall be no impediment to the full practice of the Jewish religion in civilian life, the armed forces, law enforcement bodies, the hospital or even prison. This includes the right to request kosher food.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
