Present were:

• Rabbi Barbara Irit Aiello
• Teodolinda Coltellaro
• Vincenzo and Francesco DeStefano
• Dr. Giuseppe Mascaro
• Dr. Enrico Mascaro
• Anna Maria Persico
• Avv. Dominick J Porto
• Harriet Evans Porto
• Dr. Ruque Pugliese
• Prof. Vito Teti
• Prof. Vincenzo Villella

Those present heard welcoming comments by Rabbi Barbara Irit Aiello who then turned the meeting over to Dominick J Porto. Mr. Porto thanked all for participating at this first meeting and restated the purpose of this Institute: to promote, foster, exchange and share information regarding the influence and contribution Jews have made to Calabrian and Sicilian life and culture and quoted an earlier statement made by Professor Teti, "it is a matter that has not been sufficiently researched nor recognized."

Mr Porto continued to make clear the Institute is focused on research and study and not affiliated with any one religious community or group.

A discussion ensued:

Professor Villella suggested a number of legal ways under which the Institute may be established and among other things, become eligible for financial and other assistance from Regional and local governments. In that context he offered to meet with officials in Nicastro/Lamezia Terme requesting space to serve as a center for offices, information, meetings and other activity which the Institute will promote and encourage. Preferably the space would be in the area of the Nicastro ghetto, currently identified by a commemorative plaque. The history of the Nicastro ghetto is the subject of a book recently written and published by Prof. Villella.

Professor Teti offered his offices at the Universita' della Calabria as a documentary repository until and unless other arrangements are made by the Institute.

Dr. Giuseppe Mascaro discussed his years of research of Hebrew presence in Catanzaro; his accumulation of documents and information; the recognition of his efforts by the former Chief Rabbi in Italy, Rabbi Elio Toaff and his kind and generous offer to make all his knowledge and materials available to the Institute. Dr. Mascaro gave all present a copy of a scholarly treatise published in Calabria Letteraria in October, November and December 2003 in which he discusses the establishment by Moses of the Hebrew lunar calendar, its subsequent adoption by the Romans, and changes made thereafter.

There was a lively and enthusiastic exchange of information and suggestions for the future of this Institute and a unanimous consensus that the current exchange of information, resources, documents and correspondence will be effected via internet and email until otherwise modified or decided.

Attorney Dominick J. Porto offered to pursue the legal establishment of a not for profit association under Italian law, with headquarters in Lamezia Terme at the residence of Dr. Enrico Mascaro in Via Scaramuzzino 36 until such time the Institute has established its own offices.

Mr Porto also has offered to underwrite the cost for the establishment and maintenance of an internet web site to further the goals set forth in the attached Statement of Purpose, which Statement served as the Agenda for the meeting and was accepted by all present as the Institute's vade mecum.

The meeting ended at approximately 7:45 PM after which a group of those present, under the guidance of Dr Enrico Mascaro, visited the ghetto at Nicastro where a Hebrew Community was active from the 12th to 15th centuries C.E. and the remains of a mikvah still exist.

The meeting ended sine die.

Respectfully submitted

Dominick J. Porto

July 22, 2005 (11 Tammuz 5765)