Crossing the Sea of Song: Politics of Mediterranean Music between Israel and Italy 

Authors

  • Francesco Spagnolo  Author

Keywords:

Israeli music, Italy, Mediterranean music, Mandatory Palestine, Immigration

Abstract

It is commonly observed that Italy and Israel represent two Mediterranean countries that share much more than just a close proximity in the alphabetical list of nations. Early twentieth-century Italy was one of the main points of passage for European Jews on their way to Mandatory Palestine: it acted as a launching pad for ‘aliyah bet (the Jewish clandestine immigration into Mandatory Palestine), as well as a training ground for several Zionist groups. The similarities between the popular cultures of the modern states of Israel and Italy fall into the general debate on the meaning of the “Mediterranean” as a cultural space, and, specifically, on its role within the cultures of the Jews. 

Author Biography

  • Francesco Spagnolo 

    Francesco Spagnolo is Director of Research and Collections at the Magnes, in Berkeley, California. A multidisciplinary scholar with a focus on Jewish studies, music, and digital media, he holds an MA in philosophy from the University of Milan and a doctorate in musicology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the author and editor of numerous publications, including The Dance of the Chameleon: Quotation, Textual Strategies and Survival (in Italian) Milan, 1999) and the audio anthology “Italian Jewish Musical Traditions” (Rome-Jerusalem, 2001).

Downloads

Published

2024-05-28

Issue

Vol. 7 No. II (2009): Celebrating Israel's 61th Anniversary

Section

Articles