• Click here to download the program

The opening ceremony of the 10th Day of Jewish Culture in the presence of religious and civic authorities, event guests and the general public.

Saturday evening, as the Shabbat comes to an end (8:31pm marks the end of the holy day), in the piazza in front of the Synagogue, a Jewish tradition of profound symbolical significance – Havdalah (a Hebrew word meaning difference) – will be celebrated to mark the end of the holy day and the transition to ordinary time.

The common wish is to welcome the other in daily life as is done on holy days.

The ceremony will take place in the presence of Itzhak David Margalit, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Community of Trieste and of the Fruili Venezia Giulia Region. Prof. Haim Baharier, among the foremost experts on Biblical Hermeneutics and Jewish Studies, will explain Havdalah and its significance in the context of openness and hospitality; David D’Or will lend his extraordinary voice to sacred hymns adapted to the occasion.

The message of openness and hospitality proposed by the Jewish Community, will be brought forward by the spiritual guides of the Serbian Orthodox Church who, with the participation of the City’s Archbishop Mons. Eugenio Ravignani and representatives of the entire Christian community, will bring to life the ecumenical prayer. Bilja Krstić and his ensemble will perform the hymns.

Readings on openness and hospitality from the Sacred Texts will be interspersed with four songs by David D’Or, Dragan Dautoski Quartet, Miriam Tukan, Bilja Krstić. A roundtable discussion on the theme “Openness: spiritual roots, fears, security and prospects” will follow.

Moderator:

• Alberto Melloni - UNESCO Chair for Religious Pluralism and Peace, Docent of History of Christianity at the University of Modena - Reggio Emilia, Director of the Giovanni XXIII Foundation for Religious Sciences in Bologna, Columnist for the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

Partecipants:

• Marco Aime - Writer and Docent of Cultural Anthropology at the University of Genoa
• Haim Baharier - Expert on Biblical Hermeneutics and Jewish Studies
• Giovanna Botteri - Journalist and RAI Correspondent for the United States
• Ismet Busatlic - Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies from the University of Sarajevo
• Ivan Jakovčić - President of the Region of Istria
• Drago Jančar - Author and Dramatist
• Enes Karić - Professor of Qur’anic Studies at the University of Sarajevo
• S.E. Amfilohije Radović - Metropolitan of Crna Gora and Primorje
• S.E. Eugenio Ravignani - Bishop of Trieste
• Renzo Tondo - President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region

An extraordinary concert brings to a close the 10th Day of Jewish Culture:

David D’Or, now Israel’s most celebrated and acclaimed voice, Bilja Krstić, the quintessential Serbian musician; Dragan Dautovski Quartet, an extraordinary manifestation of the traditional music of Macedonia; and Miriam Tukan, Arab musician with a voice of velvet.

Different cultures, religions, sounds and colors will unite on a common path guided by respect, awareness and discussion.