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Youth from the Jewish - Christian Friendship Association of Rome
Turconi, Laura

A June 2, 1998 SIDIC interview with Laura Turconi in Rome *

sidic: Can you tell us who you are, and how you heard about this youth group which, we believe, has been in existence since 1993?

L.T.: My name is Laura Turconi and I am a Christian. I am thirty years of age and I teach High School Latin and Greek. For me the Jewish-Christian Friendship “adventure” began in September, 1994 when I met Gabriella del Signore. While attending a diocesan retreat, this young Bible specialist was introduced to us by the priest in charge as the only person who had spoken at the Roman synod about relations between the Church of Rome and the Jews. Her passion for Judaism was equal to mine, and I immediately accepted her invitation to participate in the meeting which, after the summer, marked the AEC (Amicizia ebraico-cristiana) youth group’s resumption of its regular activities. Gabriella was part of this group.

sidic: When did you join this group and what was your motivation for doing so?

L.T.: I joined in 1994. I wanted to know the Jewish world and meet Jewish people. I had a feeling of nostalgia about some Jewish music I had listened to when I was a child - like an echo of something lost but still inside of me.

sidic: What has the group done in the last few years? How often do you meet?
How many are you? Is there a particular activity you would like to talk about?

L.T.: I will try to list some of our activities:

– We have conferences which feature different themes. We return to some of these themes cyclically. They have included: Jewish holidays; Rules for Eating; Dreams and Miracles in the Bible; Origins of the Jewish Liturgy; Shabbat; The Relationship between Jewish Disciples and their Masters; Elements of a Christian Theology on Judaism; Significant Figures in the Christian-Jewish Dialogue (which have included Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Bruno Hussar).

– We have research days and seminars at the SIDIC Centre. Our seminars have included: the Passover Haggadah; Prejudice against Jews (as seen in history, in religious and secular publications, as well as in rock music); a Guided Tour of Jewish Sites in Rome.

– During the last calendar year we had the School for Peace. This experience is based on Nevé Shalom’s experience. It consisted of a series of Sunday meetings, usually once a month. I witnessed a group of about ten Jews and Christians going through a group dynamics session. This was great!
– At some meetings we learned some Jewish dances and songs, which was a lot of fun! I would like to thank our great teachers, Lilli Spizzichino and Cesare Moseati!

– We are beginning the publication, Maslulim / Incontri Foundation, which is intended to provide information about the Jewish-Christian dialogue and which its editors want to have as widely circulated as possible. A preview issue is being distributed by the Menorah Bookstore. The first issue should be out by the Jewish New Year.

In addition to our Sunday afternoon meetings, we meet on average once or twice a month. There are between ten and fifteen participants at our meetings which are moderated by a wonderful team: Alessandra Casagrande, Angela Lupi and Lilli Spizzichino. I have found all the themes we discussed very interesting and intense - in the sense that the insights I have received have had very concrete effects for me, either in the context of my work at school or in terms of my personal development. It is all the result of making new friends, attending new lectures, and going deeper into my Christian faith. I have also tremendously appreciated the lecturers with whom we were often able to have discussions. This has given the meetings not only a cultural but also a human dimension. Our most frequent lecturers have been: the Chief Rabbi of Bologna, Alberto Sermoneta; Pastor Daniele Garrone (who let us stay at the Waldensian Faculty of Theology several times); Fr. Sorani; Renza Fozzati; and the journalist, Carlo Climati. The activity I am very enthusiastic about is learning Jewish dances. However, working for the publication is starting to take a large part of my time.

sidic: What else would you like to say about your experience? Why are you interested in meeting young people of another faith?

L.T.: Because in an interreligious group such as this one we really experience diversity, respect, dialogue, search for truth and mutual enrichment. For me personally, discovering Judaism and the way it values human life has given me a new sense of appreciation for everyday life which is so beautiful and worthy of being experienced fully. I feel like I have finally met Jesus’ parents and friends, and that I have discovered his social environment. I think it should be this way with any true friend.


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* This interview has been translated from Italian and French.