Inspired by the humanistic legacy of writer and chemist Primo Levi, who survived Auschwitz and defined the place of memory in modern societies, Centro Primo Levi is dedicated to studying the history and culture of Italian Jewry, sharing beyond linguistic borders its current ferments and future perspectives.

With twenty-two centuries of history and a unique tradition of communal diversity, tolerance and integration, the Italian Jewish community is today considered one of the most vital minorities in Europe. Through cooperative policies, programs, networking, grant-making, and publishing, CPL helps individuals and institutions coordinate goals, optimize resources, and ensure that the historical heritage and contemporary ideas of Italian Judaism are accessible through a unified portal.

Operating under the auspices of the Consulate General of Italy and in close collaboration with the Italian Association for Jewish Studies and the Union of the Italian Jewish Communities, CPL partners with research institutions in Italy, Israel, and the US. The activities dedicated to the work of Primo Levi are conducted jointly with the Primo Levi International Research Center in Turin. The founding of CPL was inspired by the work of Centro Culturale Primo Levi in Genoa.

CPL has developed a significant and diverse constituency, including, general public from different backgrounds, academics, students, and members of the media and the press. Every season institutions such as universities, Italian and Jewish community centers, Italian Cultural Institutes, publishing companies, libraries, archives, museums use CPL ’s resources.

In the year 2007 about 1,870 people attended programs sponsored by CPL. Listings and reviews of CPL ’s programs appear regularly in publications including The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Forward, The Jewish Week, America Oggi, The New York Sun, and in the Italian press.