Fashion designer to help fund restoration of the Jewish ghetto of Venice

Fashion designer to help fund restoration of the Jewish ghetto of Venice
Fashion designer to help fund restoration of the Jewish ghetto of Venice

Fashion designer to help fund restoration of the Jewish ghetto of Venice

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The Venetian Heritage Council, a philanthropic foundation founded by fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg has pledged 12 million dollars to restore the Venice Jewish Ghetto. The Venice Ghetto is the world’s oldest ghetto. It was established in the year 1516 by decree. The Jews were confined to a small gated island on the periphery of the city. It was locked up at night and along with restricting the movements of the city’s Jews, rules were also put in place regarding which professions Jews could practice. Shaul Bassi, director of Beit Venezia and the Venice Center for International Jewish Studies explains the history of the ghetto and tell us what’s involved in restoring its synagogues and museum. PHOTO: Courtesy of Shaul Bassi