After months of preparation, the first conference of Italy’s Rabbis took place yesterday and today in Milan. Dozens of Rabbis were joined in the hall, many of them young men who began their work just a few years ago, alongside honored Rabbinical figures who have served as religious leaders for decades. Also present at the conference, which was arranged by the Council of European Rabbis, was a delegation from the organization, led by its vice director Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg. Rabbi Mordechai Bitton, director of the Conferences Department, was also part of the delegation, as was Rabbi Avraham Abba Turetsky, director of the Jewish Status and Conversions Research Department, and Rabbi Yosef Beinhacker, director of theMikva’osDepartment. Rabbi Avraham Chazan of Milan and his son Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Chazan also assisted in organizing the conference.

Guest speakers on the subjects of the Jewish home and conversion were Rabbi Yirmiyahu Menachem Cohen,Av Beis Dinof Paris and one of the leaders of the Council of European Rabbis, Rabbi Avraham Yosef of Holon, who is a member of Israel’s Chief Rabbinical Council, and Rabbi Mordechai Neugroschel, a known lecturer on Judaism and philosophy. Also present at the seminar were Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik,Av Beis Dinof Milan, and one of the founders of the Council of European Rabbis, and Rabbi Alfonso Arbiv, Chief Rabbi of Milan.

The conference was held as a result of a visit to Italy from a delegation from the Council of European Rabbis several months ago, when Council representatives learned of the various spiritual needs of the Rabbis and community members and heard about the local Rabbis’ desire to get together and refresh their knowledge of various issues that they have to deal with on a day-to-day basis. Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg, vice director of the Council of European Rabbis, concluded the conference by saying that he was very happy ג€to see dozens of Rabbis sitting together and discussing important matters. We succeeded in creating a fruitful and dynamic dialogue on a range of issues necessary for the Rabbis, and we are sure that in the coming years the Rabbis and the members of their communities will both benefit from the fruits of this conference.ג€