Five days of talks, dance, literature, music and food

Rome hosts the seventh edition of the International Festival of Jewish Literature and Culture from 13-17 September. Family is the theme of the five-day festival which takes place in the Jewish Ghetto area around the synagogue, and includes Jewish-related debates, books, meetings, exhibitions, dance, music and food.

As usual the festival opens with Night of the Kabbalah on 13 September, with diverse cultural events dedicated to Jewish mysticism, from reflections on bioethics by Chief Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni to a concert by Israeli popstar Idan Raichel who performs his latest work for the first time in Italy.

The evening features Italian and international artists who provide music, theatre and literature from 21.00 until 02.00, while the Jewish Museum is open that night from 22.00 until 01.00.

Over the course of the five days the event is brought to life by participating Italian intellectuals such as composer Ennio Morricone, writers Carmen Llera Moravia and Lia Levi, as well as American authors Jami Attenberg and Pulitzer Prize-winner Elizabeth Strout.

The festival closes with a gran finale of contemporary dance by Israeli choreographers Oded Graf and Yossi Berg with their multi-award winning performance Heroes.

Rome's Jewish community continues to grow, according to its president Riccardo Pacifici who pointed to the capital's 18th synagogue built before the summer in the Parioli district.

All festival events are free and for full information tel. 060608 or see website.