Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara toured one of the most important yet unknown Jewish sites in Rome during their recent visit to Italy. According to the studies, this is one of five Jewish catacombs built between 1500 and 2000 years ago, and in them were buried thousands of Jews. There are distinct Jewish wall decorations n the catacombs, such as Jewish names, a Menorah, pomegranates, citrons, depictions of a Torah and the Holy Ark, and others.
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The existence and locations of the catacombs in the heart of Rome were known throughout history but were eventually forgotten, in several cases even lost. Over the past few years, researchers and rabbis took a renewed interest in the catacombs to preserve them and properly honor the deceased as is required by the Halacha. The catacomb in which the most advanced conservation work is being done is in the Villa Torlonia park in the center of Rome (Piazza Bologna).
In the complex, which served, among other things, as the seat of Benito Mussolini, Italy's ruler in the previous century, the construction of a Holocaust museum has been delayed for years. On the other hand, a group of researchers and rabbis from Israel, Italy, and the United States dug up and documented most of the catacombs in the park in Rome.
Some participants include Rabbi Hezekiah Kalmanovich, a world expert on burials from Asra Kadisha, Rabbi Shmuel Di Seini, Rome's chief rabbi, and Amir Janach, Israel's expert on antique preservation, who oversaw the project in practice with his son, Michael, who is a conservator.
In an interview with Israel Hayom, Janach said, "this is a huge burial complex, the overall length of which is 1.2 kilometers (0.8 miles). About 3800 people were buried in it. All the deceased's skeletons were in the catacombs, and in terms of Halacha and preservation, it was important to leave them there. Over the years, their graves were desecrated, even including severe cases of skeletons and skulls on the floor. Our project aimed to professionally treat the burials and the site in terms of preservation, archeology, architecture, and engineering, while observing the Halacha on the deceased regarding dignity afforded the deceased. We were and are still required to work with the authorities in Italy, and we told our local colleagues that these are our grandfathers and grandmothers. It moved them greatly," said Janach to Israel Hayom.
He added that the catacomb in Villa Torlonia "is ascribed to the first century. We saved one of the world's largest and most splendid Jewish sites. During the project, which Italy's Antiquities Authority supervised, all the findings in the catacombs and hallways were researched. The findings tell of 12 synagogues that operated in Rome at the time. We saved all the writings and drawings on the walls almost lost to history."
While the treatment of the known catacomb was taking place, the team succeeded, with great effort, in locating one of the three lost catacombs, leaving only two. To help with his ambitious project, Janach requested that Prime Minister Netanyahu take advantage of his visit to Italy on the weekend to tour the site. Netanyahu agreed and visited the catacombs with his spouse, Sara, before Shabbat.
"The prime minister, his team, and Sara Netanyahu were very excited, and she analyzed the artifacts; the prime minister said, 'this is completely Jewish,'" Janach said about the couple's reactions. He added, "Sometimes, in meetings in Italy, we need a world-known and influential diplomatic figure to help us continue the conservation work so that we can preserve additional catacombs located in Rome and all over Italy for the sake of future generations."
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed the visit. It said to Israel Hayom that Netanyahu plans on appealing to the Italian government to deepen the research on the Jewish catacombs in Rome. The site is estimated to be opened for tourism in the not-so-distant future.
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