Italy's first, only female Jewish rabbi to speak at Newsmaker Aug. 13

Rabbi Barbara Aiello, who serves Jews across Europe as an advocate for pluralistic Judaism, will address the challenges of serving as Italy’s first and only female rabbi at a National Press Club Newsmakers news conference Thursday, Aug. 13.

In many parts of the Jewish world – notably in the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Israel itself – the number of female rabbis is increasing dramatically. Several rabbinical schools now boast classes that are 60 percent female.

But as rabbi of the first active synagogue in Italy’s southernmost region, Calabria, Rabbi Aiello has faced not only the negative attitudes of her rabbinic colleagues, but the deep-seated prejudice of northern Italians toward southern Italians that exists even today.

Rabbi Aiello serves Jews throughout Europe as a spokesperson for Pluralistic Judaism – a movement that deliberately blurs denominational lines and extends the hand of Jewish welcome to Jews of all backgrounds

From the untold story of the Ferramonti Concentration Camp where nearly 4,000 Jews were saved by Italian soldiers and local villagers to the hills of Calabria where Italian families have stubbornly clung to their ancient Jewish roots, Rabbi Aiello, a first generation Calabrian Italian American, will share her story of self-discovery, struggle and triumph in a little known corner of the world.

Like all Newsmaker events, this news conference is open to credentialed press and National Press Clu members free of charge. No advance registration is required.

Contact is the event host, Tony Gallo, at 202-544-6973 or [email protected]