” “"The entwining of the Jewish tradition with the other cultural and religious forms that existed in Europe" went through "times of fruitful exchange over the centuries" as well as beastly violence, but there is no doubt of "the contribution made by the Jewish culture to the history of the old continent", especially "for the unique imprint of its thought and knowledge". This is the basic assumption of the XXIX European Week, which, promoted by "Fondazione ambrosiana Paolo VI" in conjunction with Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, opened yesterday at Villa Gagnola, Gazzada (Varese), about "Religious history of the Jews of Europe" (until 7th September). In his message to the meeting, the archbishop of Milan, card. Dionigi Tettamanzi, spoke of the "great spiritual heritage shared by both Christians and Jews". "Today, three are the poles of Hebraism highlighted Anna Foa from "La Sapienza" University of Rome-: Israel, the American diaspora and Europe. It is the latter that is now having trouble finding an independent role, creating a new identity for itself". Speakers included Maurice Ruben Hayoun (University of Geneva); Catherine Horel (University of Paris); Roberto Della Rocca (Union of the Italian Israelite Communities), and the Polish journalist Konstanty Gebert. ” “
