Jewish History of Piedmont

Jewish immigration into Piedmont began early in the 15th century at the invitation of the Duke of Savoy, who sought to extend the network of Jewish banking into the region. Immigrants came from France, Spain and elsewhere within Italy, and settled in small towns throughout the region, creating a hybrid Piedmontese-Jewish culture whose expression can be seen in art, folklore, manners and cuisine. The Jewish emancipation of 1848 granted full property ownership rights, and resulted in a degree of Jewish wealth and influence unmatched in continental Europe. Today Piedmont has the largest Jewish community in Italy, with extant synagogues at Turin, Asti, Casale Monferrato (a national monument), Cuneo, Mondovi, Cherasco, Ivria, Biella, Alessandria, and Vercelli.

For a brief history of Jewish Piedmont, together with a guide to some of its leading sights and personalities, follow this link to Elin Schoen Brockman's February 1998 article in Hadassah magazine.