A day with Lucia
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On one bright day in the spring of 2006, on the banks of the Hudson River, a human and spiritual bond was forged between seemingly unlikely soul mates.  A bridge across time, 106 years in the making, was about to be crossed by a young journalist, Olivia Fincato and documented by photographer Renato D’Agostin.  Over a series of conversations, the journey would reveal the unparalleled professional achievement, personal joy and unimaginable sorrow of a remarkable life lived amidst the tumultuous and sometimes horrific panorama of the 20th Century.

The exhibition documenting this journey holds many evocative images but it is the hands that are so striking;
a labyrinth of veins and wrinkles, hands weathered and well used in a life of service to others. Lucia Seravadio Bedarida was born into a Jewish family in Ancona on July 17, 1900.  In 1922 she graduated in Surgery and Obstetrics at the University of Rome becoming the youngest female doctor in Italy.  In 1939 she was forced to flee Italy because of the promulgation of the anti-semitic racial laws which effected her whole family. She moved to Tangier, an international area in Morocco that harbored Jews who fled Europe.  There, she and her husband were allowed to practice their profession.  In Tangier, she worked as a doctor for more than forty years and assisted hundreds of women in giving birth.

The break with Italy is drastic and communication is impossible. After a few years, heartbreaking news arrives: her mother and grandmother were deported and killed in Auschwitz.  The antithesis of such evil at that moment was the welcoming embrace of her adoptive country Morocco, a Muslim country she called “her land” and where they called her Mama Rida.  And call upon her they did, whether to assist Jewish refugees fleeing Europe or with impressive appointments such as medical advisor to not only the Minster of Public Health in Morocco and the American Consulate but also to The United Nations.

Heartache, separation and uprooting are woven throughout her story but in spite of this and the passage of time with the infirmities of age, her flame burned ever brighter.  There was the joy of music, theater, family, travel, hang gliding on her 105th birthday and giving, especially to the young like Olivia.  When life brought adversity she gave hope, when there was fear she gave courage, when she was shown intolerance she responded with compassion, when there was darkness she radiated light and warmth for that was her name: Lucia - Light.  Lucia’s journey ended at 106 but she and her story will remain a beacon for Olivia, Renato and all those who partake of her wisdom and experience.  It is her personal grace, her gift, the gift of life.
Events 2010 Italian Cultural Institute, Washington, DC

Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 6:30 PM
Book presentation and projection of the video “Mama Rida” by Olivia Fincato
Viewing of the exhibition by Renato D’Agostin and reception
The exhibition will remain on view through February 10, 2010

A book based on the encounter with Lucia Servadio Bedarida, the youngest female doctor in Italy who became the first woman physician in Morocco, mindful of 106 years of life.      

In 1939 Lucia escaped to Tangier because of the introduction in Italy of  the racial laws which affected her whole family. After 40 years of work as a gynecologist in Morocco she joined her daughters in United States. Her mother and grandmother were deported and killed at Auschwitz. Lucia donated their last letters, written from Fossoli Camp, to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

Lucia’s daughters, Mirella and Paola Bedarida, will participate to the event, together with Claudia Davidson, Lucia’s granddaughter, and doctor Ioana Razi, whose career path was inspired by Lucia’s wisdom.

Auditorium of the Embassy of Italy - Italian Cultural Institute of Washington, DC
3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Picture I.D. required – Please RSVP at www.iicwashington.esteri.it



2009 Palais des Institutions Italiennes, Tangier

 

THE EMBASSY OF ITALY IN RABAT, THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ITALY IN CASABLANCA AND THE ITALIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE OF RABAT

 

Cordially invite you to the presentation of the book "A day with Lucia" by Olivia Fincato and Renato D’Agostin

 

Book presentation followed by the exhibition of photographs and by a video based on the encounter with Dr. Lucia Servadio Bedarida (1900-2006)

 

The joungest jewish female doctor in Italy who moved, after the promulgation of the “racial law” of 1939 from Rome to Tangier, from Tangier to New York. Lucia worked in Morocco for more than fourty years and her assistance as surgeon, gynaecologist and obstetrician was extremely precious, everybody now remember her as “Mama Rida”

 

PROGRAM:

 

18.30 Opening remarks by S.E. Ambassador of Italy in Rabat, Umberto Lucchesi Palli

 

With the partecipation of:

 

Nicola Lener, General Consul of Casablanca, Giorgio Salerno, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of Rabat, Olivia Fincato, journalist and Renato D’Agostin, photographer, Paola, Mirella, Adria, Lucia Bedarida’s daughters, Charles Zalber, Director of the Gallery PHOTO4 in Paris

 

Followed by:

 

The projection of the video “Mama Rida” by Olivia Fincato 

Memories of “Mama Rida” generation

Opening of the photo exhibition

Cocktail

 

Palace of the Italian Institutions (ancien palace Moulay Hafid)

23, Rue Mohammed Ben Abedelouhab, 90000 Tangier

 

The photo exhibition will be on view at Foundation Lorin from April 4th to May 31st 2009, 44 rue Touahine -Médina, Tangier


 



Palazzo Roberti, Bassano del Grappa

14 March 2009

Book presentation and exhibition of the photographs based on the encounter with Dr. Lucia Servadio Bedarida.

The youngest female jewish doctor in Italy who moved, after the promulgation of the "racial laws" of 1939, from Rome to Tangier, from Tangier to New York.
Her work in Morocco was extremely precious for muslim women, Lucia assisted hundreds of them in giving birth their babies, everybody now remember her as "Mama Rida".

With a special partecipation of

Prof.DARIA MINUCCI
Direttore Unità Ostetrica e Ginecologica Ospedale di Padova
Professore Associato in Ginecologia Universita' di Padova

Dr. YORAM MEIR
Direttore dell’Unità Complessa di Ostetricia e Ginecologia
Ospedale Civile di Bassano del Grappa

Dr. MARIA VITTORIA MIOTTI
Psichiatra Psicoterapeuta
Ospedale di Padova

Dr. LOREDANA CAMPISI
Medico Ginecologo
Ospedale Civile di Cittadella



2008 Pinacoteca Comunale, Ancona

26 September - 5 October 2008

In collaboration with Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali (Università politecnica delle Marche), Assemblea Legislativa delle Marche, Provincia di Ancona, Comune di Ancona, Unione Comunità Ebraiche Italiane

With a special partecipation of:

Raffaele Bucciarelli, Presidente del Consiglio regionale delle Marche

Pierluigi Fontana, Assessore alla Cultura del Comune di Ancona

M.Giovanna Vicarelli, Università Politecnica delle Marche

Corrado Fuà, Comunità ebraica di Ancona



Sala Margana, Roma

7 September 2008

With the support of Ospedale Israelitico, Centro di Cultura Ebraica, Museo Ebraico of Rome and the special partecipation of:

Giorgio Coen, Presidente del Consiglio di Amministrazione e Legale Rappresentante dell' Ospedale Israelitico di Roma

Dott. Stefano Valabrega, Assessore dell'Ospedale Israelitico e Vicepresidente della Comunità Ebraica di Roma

Dott. Cesare Efrati, Rabbino e gastroenterologo

Prof. Marco Cavallarin, scrittore e regista

Giovanna Adler, autrice della prefazione del libro.



Cornwall Public Library, New York

3 February 2008



2007 Center for Jewish History, New York

16 December 2007

With the special partecipation of Dr. Bedarida’s daughters, Mirella Shapiro Bedarida and Paola Bedarida, together with Dr. Giti Bensinger, physician specialized in Urogynecology and Female Pelvic Reconstructive  Surgery, at Maimonides Medical Center and a member of the International Organization for Women ’s Health and Development



Istituto Italiano di Cultura, New York

6 December 2007

With the partecipation of Stanislao Pugliese,Professor of modern European history at Hofstra University
Stefano Albertini, Director of Casa Italiana Zerilli Marimò, New York Univeristy