Jewish history

See also: History of the Jews in Southern Central Italy

Epigraphical evidence show that a Jewish community had existed in Benevento since the fifth century at least.^[22][23] At the 10th century, Jewish traveller Ahimaaz ben Paltiel describes in his chronicle the Jewish community of Benevento, among other southern Italy towns.^[24] One of his relatives established a Yeshiva in town and a large part of his family ended residing in Benevento.^[25] In 1065, prince Landulf IV of Benevento forced a number of Jews to convert to Christianity. He was reproved for doing that by Pope Alexander II.^[26] When Jewish traveller Benjamin of Tudela visited Benevento in 1159 or 1165, he described 200 Jewish families living in it.^[27][28] Being under Papal rule (unlike the rest of southern Italy), the Jewish community of Benevento was not expelled, as most other southern Italy Jewish communities in 1541.^[22] Nevertheless, they were expelled from town later on 1569, under Pope Paul IV.^[22] In 1617 the Jewish community was given permission to settle back in town, though 13 years later they were expelled once again after being accused of Well poisoning.^[22] Since then, there was no organized Jewish community in Benevento.^[29] Nevertheless, Jews had lived in Benevento in an unorganized manner during the past centuries, in addition to a few Israeli Jews living in town in recent years, occasionally suffering of Anti-Semitic incidents.^[30][31]