The Jewish Ghetto is the oldest in the world and dates back to 1516.
The Jewish Ghetto in Venice is the oldest ghetto in the world dating back to 1516.
In the city there are four Synagogues of different sizes: three are Ashkenazi and one is Sephardic (Schola Spagnola). The interior of Schola Spagnola features a perfect combination of Venetian and Byzantine styles and it can accommodate up to 250 people. The Chuppah used during the ceremony is centuries-old.
Practical Information
1. Our Community is Orthodox and we follow the Sephardic minhag (rite). Nevertheless there are no impediments for people who wish to celebrate an anniversary in Venice, provided that their faith is attested by a recognized Orthodox Rabbinate.
2. Regarding the use of the Venetian Synagogues, there are no special rules to follow, except those usually established for Orthodox synagogues. However during weddings women are exempted from using the gallery dedicated to them, and men and women can stay in the same room, on opposite sides.
3. The ceremony takes place in Hebrew.
4. For weddings the Community grants the use of the ancient and precious Chuppah, the silver Quiddush glass (part of the collection) and the glass to be broken at the end of the ceremony.
5. The Community may also provide a printed Ketubbah.
6. The wedding date should be fixed in agreement with the Rabbi who will take account of the periods of the year when, according to Jewish law, the ceremony cannot take place and any other possible impediment.
7. Services include: cleaning of the Synagogue before and after the ceremony, security service at the entrance of the Synagogue for the entire duration of the ceremony, the use of the premises of the Community Centre, telephone, postage, fax, and other similar expenses, the control and verification of the validity of the documents by the Rabbi, the ritual bath for the bride, the officiating of the ceremony by the Rabbi and the Hazzan, the printed Ketubbah, the setting up of the Chuppah. Other services will be quantified separately, according to the needs of each applicant.
8. It is a good custom that the bride and groom or the parents of young spouses offer a Quiddush to their guests in the Community Centre, a few steps from the Synagogues. In the Centre hall (which can accommodate about 100 people, as does the adjacent garden) it is also possible to cater a meal prepared according to the rules of Kasherut.
9. 8. The rates vary depending on the number of people invited and the type of refresments.
8. In order to respect the rules of the halakah, the Rabbi of Venice requires the following documents:
- The certificate of an Orthodox Rabbinate attesting that the groom and bride are Jews and members of a Community (membership to an Orthodox community makes procedures easier);
- Ketubboth of the marriage of the parents of the couple;
- Te, dhath rawquth, i.e. the certificate demonstrating that the couple have not had previous marriage ties, compiled by an Orthodox Beth-Din.
11. If the bride and groom have Italian citizenship, the marriage celebrated in our Synagogues may also have, upon request, civil effects.
12. The Rabbi and Hazzan can act as witnesses to the ceremony. In any case, other witnesses will have to be shomerè mitzwòth.
13. As for the miqwe, the bride can do it in Venice or at another Community: in the latter case she will have to bring a certificate, dated up to 4 days prior to the ceremony, attesting that the mitzvah was performed.