Fondation Jewish Contemporary Documentation Center (CDEC)

The Fondazione Centro di Documentazione Ebraica Contemporanea CDEC onlus [Foundation Jewish Contemporary Documentation Center - CDEC - non profit social-utility organization (ONLUS)] is an independent Institute for Italian Jewish History and Culture. Founded in Milan, the Foundation is a non-profit organization, legally recognized by Italian Presidential Decree of 17 April 1990.

The Federation of Italian Jewish Youth established the Centro di Documentazione Ebraica Contemporanea [Jewish Contemporary Documentation Center] (CDEC) in 1955 in celebration of the ten-year anniversary of the liberation of Italy, the fall of the Fascist government of the Italian Social Republic, and the end of Nazi occupation. According to its first by-laws, the aim of the CDEC was "to seek out and collect documents relating to the persecution of Jews in Italy and the Jewish contribution to the Resistance" and to disseminate them. In 1986, the CDEC had grown significantly and was established as the Foundation Jewish Contemporary Documentation Center - CDEC (CDEC Foundation).

The current by-laws of the CDEC Foundation state that the Foundation is an independent Institute under the aegis of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) and that it is subject to the surveillance by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and UCEI.

The CDEC Foundation by-laws also state that:

• The Foundation is a non profit organization.
• The task of the Foundation is to promote study of Jewish history, culture and society, with special emphasis on Italy and contemporary times, and to collect all pertinent documentation.
• The Foundation seeks to counter all forms of racism and anti-Semitism, and to promote and safeguard civil rights.
• The Foundation preserves the memory of the Fascist and Nazi persecution of the Jews.

All historical, archival or bibliographic materials are preserved by the Foundation as an inalienable asset of Italian Jewry.
The CDEC Foundation is the principal institute for the study of Jewish history, culture and life, particularly in regard to the contemporary period in Italy, the Fascist and Nazi persecutions, contemporary anti-Semitism, world Jewish history and the worldwide role of Jewish culture.

In virtue of its special commitment to document, research and preserve the memory of the Shoah, the CDEC Foundation may be regarded as the "place of memory" for the thousands of Italian Jews who were deported and murdered.