By Joan Kurtz
Most people have heard and used the word "ghetto," but may not know of its origins. I learned more about this word while visiting Venice recently where I actually saw where the Venetian Jewish ghetto had been established more than 500 years ago.
The original spelling of "ghetto" was "gheto" from an Italian dialect and means "foundry." It seems that the first Jewish ghetto was created on March 29,1516, on one of Venice's 118 islands on what was once the foundry or the area where metals were produced. The Jewish population was removed from the general population and secluded in this ghetto, far away from the other Venetians. In addition, two gates were constructed by the two bridges that connected this island to the rest of Venice. These would be locked at night but open during the day for both Jews and Venetians to travel unhindered.
Later, "gheto" would be spelled "ghetto" and translated as "section of city where Jews are forced to live." These gates were not open till 1797 when Napoleon invaded Italy. Then the gates were torn down and the ghetto's Jewish citizens celebrated.
