The Spiro Ark is delighted to welcome Susan Kikoler, the Honorary Director of the British Italian Society who is responsible for creating fascinating monthly programmes for the members of this society which due to her imaginative and dynamic guidance has grown by 50%.
She is an expert in bringing the diversity of Italian Life to her society and to the public at large and is passionate about spreading the knowledge of the unique history of Jews in Italy.
An exciting speaker and as a writer of fiction and a journalist, Susan paints with words a colourful canvas of fascinating events and trends is the Jewish experience in different major communities in Italy.
As a drama critic on behalf of the London Arts Board every story she tells has a dramatic effect on the audience. For her service to the Italian culture she has been awarded an Italian Knighthood (Commander of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity), an award given by the Italian President as a recognition of outstanding contribution of promoting the knowledge of Italian culture in Britain.
The story of Italian Jews
One of the most ancient and most fascinating Jewish communities in the world's dating back to the 2nd century BCE. This is proven through tomb stones with inscriptions mainly in the south of Italy.
As often in Jewish history, a diaspora begins with Jew individuals, usually who settle in a place and due to Jewish life which is based on life in a community other follow.

In 161 BCE Judah Maccubre sent a delegation to Rome wishing to obtain a treaty with the Roman senate. Jews in Rome at the time were accused of conducting Jewish propaganda and it was known that particularly women were attracted to Jews. Julius Caesar however, looked upon them as a cohesive element in the Roman world and permitted them to adhere to their religious duties and thus being exempt from certain obligations. The majority of Jews however arrived after the destruction of the Temple in the 70 AD. Jewish slaves were used in the building of the Colosseum. The rebellion against the Romans of the Jews in Judea which eluded in the destruction of the Temple and in mass deportations of Jewish prisoners to Italy. They settled mainly in the south yet a community was formed in Rome too. By then at least 10.000 Jews formed the Roman community.
In 1215, the Lutheran Council (1215) established that Jews had to live in separate quarters and were obliged to wear recognizable insignia, measures which were adopted by the Nazis over 700 years later.
In 1492 and 1497 respectively, radical charge took place as Jews were expelled from Spain and Portugal and many of them took refuge in Italy. Jewish communities grew and as a direct result, they were target of the xenophobia grew and with it waves of persecution.
In 1516, 700 Jews were forced to leave their residence and move to a special quarter which was a site of 14th century foundry which produced cannons. This Italian term Ghetto which originated in Italy soon spread around Europe to describe exclusive Jewish neighbourhoods (and later as areas designated for other isolated groups) Ghettos isolated but also often protected Jews from attacks as their gates were shut at nights.
Yet in 1796 Napoleon who conquered Italy brought his ideas of emancipation and tore down the walls of all ghettos. After his fall however, Jewish quarters were re-established.
The Holocaust tragically was responsible for 7500 exterminated in gas chambers, 9000 emigrated and 6000 converted into Christianity.
WEDNESDAY 1 JUNE 2011, 7:30pm
At Spiro Ark's Centre, 25-26 Enford Street, London W1H 1DW
Price: £10