The essay discusses the new history of the Jews in Italy by Marina Caffiero and proposes to underline the novelty of her approach, in describing the internal dynamics of their communities, their forms of self-government, their social tensions and conflicts, their attitude to Sephardic Jews. Ample space is dedicated to cultural traditions, to female writers, to family strategies as regards marriage and economic choices. Another important topic is the fearful and hostile attitude of Christians towards Jewish "superstitions" and towards ongoing processes of secularization and emancipation in the eighteenth century.
Keywords: Jews in Italy, Sephardic Diaspora, Inquisition, Conversion, Superstition.