European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 6, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Worlds first jewish ghetto owes name to venetian foundry by David Mazie National geographic society at first glance the spacious Cobblestone Square looks much like any other in this watery old City of Venice Italy. A a. Put closer inspection reveals some unusual features. Most of the buildings flanking the Square Are taller than those in the City s other  up one is a Row of five arched windows. Atop another is a Small wooden cupola. This is the Quot Campo Del ghetto Quot site of the world s first jewish ghetto and source of the very word that has come to signify enforced segregation and repression a something  jews no longer  anywhere although other groups continue to in some countries. Originally designated for jewish settlement in t516, the venetian enclave at one time it Vas Home to More than. 5,000 jews. A today Only about 20 jews still live Here but the area remains the heart of jewish spiritual social and intellectual life in Venice a a a a a Quot this unique Patrimony is a testimony to the treasures a Smail Community can a a a produce despite confinement a a a oppression persecution a a provided it is enlivened by deep Faith Quot says Rena to a a a Joh a director of Venice s jewish Quot a Community. -. -. A a v it s not surprising that the first jewish. Ghetto  in Italy. This. A a country was Home to the first jews in a a a a a a Europe More than 2,000 years ago. Italian jews experienced alternating a. Periods of acceptance and hostility depending in part on the attitude of the reigning Pope Quot. In general they were treated better than in other countries says Riccardo a Coli Mani a venetian jewish historian and author  most comprehensive history a of the ghetto a a. A in the Middle Ages some venetians concerned about economic Competition inn Teclo expel local jews. Others a Derry item. Pointing to  in Annne lending a calling that the. Church forbade catholics. A Compromise was reached that became a Model for Many other cities jews would be confined to a separate Quarter. A Quot. The area Chesen was a Small Island in the Northern part of Venice known As the Quot ghetto Nuovo Quot Quot new foundry Quot because it  site of an abandoned Cannon factory.  1516 some 700 jews of German and italian origin were moved into . Massive Gates were set up at the Bridges onto the Island and buildings were connected to form a Wall. Jews could not own property or take. Part in Venice s International Trade. They had to Wear an identifying Emblem a round yellow badge at first a yellow or. Scarlet hat later. A. Guards were stationed at the entrances and patrolled the surrounding canals. The Gates were opened at Dawn closed at dusk. Only during the Day could jews move freely about the City. Christians and foreigners entered the. Ghetto to work and conduct business to a talk with  and attend Quot. Theater performances but the non jews. Could t remain overnight. Sexual intimacy Between jews and Christian was against the Law. Dwellings in the ghetto were Quot. Subdivided into , with six. Or seven people crammed into every room. A a a Quot. Because the Only direction to expand Quot was upward buildings around the Square Rose to seven eight and nine stories. Double the height of most other venetian residences. "1 As newcomers from Spain Portugal. The Levant and other areas joined the. Original ghetto dwellers an area on an. Adjacent Island known As the Quot ghetto Vecchio Quot Quot old ghetto was allocated to the jews and in/1 633 the ghetto expanded to another nearby. Neighbourhood. E. / despite the crowding the confinement and the humiliation of ghetto life the a jews of Venice managed to preserve their culture religion and lifestyle and at the