ADEI-WIZO

ADEI-WIZO (Associazione Donne Ebree d'Italia – WIZO) is the principal Jewish women's association in Italy. Its core dates to 1927, when the Associazione donne ebree d'Italia (ADEI) was founded in Milan as a response both to the growing public role of women within Italian Jewish communities and to the tightening restrictions of the Fascist regime on Italian public life. From the outset the association offered Italian Jewish women a protected space in which to preserve their identity and express their social commitment. After the Second World War and the creation of the State of Israel, ADEI strengthened its ties with world Zionist associations and officially adopted the name ADEI-WIZO, becoming one of the national federations of the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO). WIZO itself was founded in London in 1920 as a non-political movement giving women a voice in the project that led to the birth of Israel; over time it became a network of women for women, defending rights to work, study, family life and a life free from violence, and today it is described by ADEI-WIZO as the leading welfare partner of the Government of Israel. ADEI-WIZO ETS is registered in Italy's Registro Unico nazionale del Terzo Settore (RUNTS) and operates as a non-profit voluntary organization with social-utility purposes. It supports WIZO's mission by raising funds for projects in Israel and by developing its own national and local initiatives through territorial sections representing the association in 16 Italian cities. Its work spans assistance to women, children and the elderly, education, child protection, inclusiveness, civil rights, and the fight against antisemitism and anti-Zionism. The association is governed by a National Council (Consiglio Nazionale) of twelve councillors. Its public communication highlights fundraising campaigns, including the Italian 5x1000 donation mechanism, and projects such as Bar/Bat Mitzvah programmes, support for children at risk, and a telephone line to interrupt the spiral of domestic violence. ADEI-WIZO also maintains a cultural and publishing tradition, with activities and publications aimed at Jewish education and community life.

The Associazione donne ebree d'Italia (ADEI) was founded in 1927 in Milan. It emerged as a consequence of the greater public weight assumed by women within Italian Jewish communities and in Italian society, but also as a reaction to the restrictions and growing control exercised by the Fascist authorities over every aspect of Italian public life. ADEI became a place where Italian Jewish women could find a space to safeguard their identity and express their social commitment. After the inaugural presidency of Berta Bernstein Cammeo (1927–28), the association found energetic and sure guidance during its formative years (1928–39) in Vittoria Pisa Cantoni, daughter of Ugo Pisa. Unable to exercise any political role, the association concentrated on material and spiritual assistance to needy Jews living in Italy and in territories annexed to it, especially Libya. It also established contacts with Jewish communities in Palestine, although the regime prohibited official relations with world Zionist organizations. Another main sphere of activity was the promotion and dissemination of Jewish culture among the younger generations. This task became more urgent because of the Gentile Reform and the Lateran Pacts, which reintroduced Catholic studies into the curriculum of state schools. In Milan, members managed to promote lessons in Jewish studies for Jewish students in state schools. Other initiatives included the publication of a monthly Jewish-culture magazine for children, L'Israele dei Ragazzi, and training courses for mothers on Jewish holidays. From 1933 the number of Jewish refugees from Germany grew in Italy, and assistance to refugees became one of the association's priority commitments. In 1935 ADEI passed under the umbrella of the Union of Italian Israelite Communities. Active local groups formed especially in Milan, Turin, Genoa, Ferrara, Venice, Florence, Livorno and Rome. Membership rose from 117 members in 1927 to 1,334 in 1937. In September 1938 the Fascist racial laws dealt a harsh blow to Italian Jews and to Italian Jewish women in particular, many of whom had found work in the world of education, from which they were now excluded. The general impoverishment of Italian Jews, following the loss of work by men and women, multiplied requests for help while reducing the number of those who could help, also as a consequence of the many emigrations among wealthier Jewish families. Within a single year ADEI's members halved to 686. The organization now operated under a thousand restrictions under the guidance of Gabriella Ravenna Falco, daughter of the former President of the Union and wife of the jurist Mario Falco. With the outbreak of war in 1940 a new, larger wave of Jewish refugees arrived in Italy, especially from the Balkans. The Fascist regime created a network of internment camps for 'foreign' Jews, but also for many 'Italian' Jews suspected of anti-Fascism. ADEI mobilized in support of DELASEM, the Italian Jewish agency formed to support refugees and internees. Rescue stations for refugees were organized, along with fund-raising, soup kitchens, spiritual and material assistance for those transferred to internment camps scattered throughout the country, and even an orphanage at Villa Emma in Nonantola. The worst was yet to come. With 8 September 1943, the German occupation and the birth of the Italian Social Republic, all Jews resident in Italy were subject to deportation and extermination. ADEI found itself unable to continue its activities as an association. From the days following the liberation of Rome in 1944, and then fully throughout Italy after 25 April 1945, the revived ADEI nuclei, revitalized by the encounter with the Jewish Brigade, committed themselves to the rebirth of Jewish life in Italy under the presidency of Marta Navarra Bernstein. The tasks were to reunite dispersed families, assist the sick and destitute, and help the many Jews who poured into Italy from all over Europe seeking passage to Palestine. In the changed post-war context, ADEI concentrated on tasks more specifically linked to Jewish identity, such as Jewish education for children and young people and welfare works within the community. With the creation of the State of Israel, ties with world Zionist associations strengthened and the association officially took the name ADEI-WIZO. Today ADEI continues its life with the organization of cultural and publishing activities and with assistance and support projects for women, children and the elderly. ADEI-WIZO ETS is registered in the Registro Unico nazionale del Terzo Settore (RUNTS) and is a non-profit voluntary organization with social-utility purposes. It is governed by a National Council of twelve councillors and operates through territorial sections in 16 Italian cities, supporting WIZO's mission by raising funds for projects in Israel and developing its own national and local initiatives.

• 2018

  Susanna Martinotti Sciaky becomes president.

• 1948

  With the creation of the State of Israel, ties with world Zionist associations strengthen and the association officially takes the name ADEI-WIZO.

• 1945

  After 25 April 1945, ADEI revives fully throughout Italy under the presidency of Marta Navarra Bernstein (1945–63).

• 1944

  From the days following the liberation of Rome, ADEI nuclei revive and commit to the rebirth of Jewish life in Italy.

• 1943

  With 8 September 1943, the German occupation and the Italian Social Republic subject all Jews in Italy to deportation and extermination; ADEI cannot continue as an association.

• 1940

  With the outbreak of war, a new wave of Jewish refugees arrives in Italy, especially from the Balkans; ADEI mobilizes in support of DELASEM.

• 1938

  The Fascist racial laws strike Italian Jews; within a year ADEI's membership halves to 686. Gabriella Ravenna Falco leads the organization (1939–45).

• 1937

  Membership reaches 1,334, up from 117 in 1927.

• 1935

  ADEI passes under the umbrella of the Union of Italian Israelite Communities.

• 1933

  The number of Jewish refugees from Germany grows in Italy; assistance to refugees becomes a priority commitment.

• 1928

  Vittoria Pisa Cantoni begins her presidency (1928–39), guiding the association through its formative years.

• 1927

  The Associazione donne ebree d'Italia (ADEI) is founded in Milan; Berta Bernstein Cammeo serves as its first president (1927–28).

• 1920

  WIZO (Women's International Zionist Organization) is founded in London as a non-political movement giving women a voice in the project that led to the birth of Israel.

Italy's main Jewish women's association and the Italian federation of WIZO, operating as a non-profit voluntary organization focused on women's rights, social welfare, education and the fight against antisemitism.

• Fundraising for WIZO projects in Israel

  ADEI-WIZO supports WIZO's mission by raising funds for projects in Israel.

• Territorial sections in 16 Italian cities

  Local sections represent the association in 16 Italian cities and develop their own initiatives.

• 5x1000 donation campaign

  A fund-raising mechanism through which supporters can direct the Italian 5x1000 donation to ADEI-WIZO.

• Domestic-violence helpline project

  A telephone line project aimed at interrupting the spiral of domestic violence.

• Bar/Bat Mitzvah programme

  A programme listed among ADEI-WIZO's fund-raising and social initiatives.

• Support for children at risk

  A project dedicated to children at risk.

1. 1HOME | ADEI WIZO Associazione Donne Ebree d'Italia, volontariato e promozione socialeadeiwizo.org
2. 2CHI SIAMO | ADEI WIZOadeiwizo.org
3. 3Adei-Wizo — Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Associazione donne ebree d'Italia — Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org