Life in Zagarolo

There is evidence that the Jews settled in Rome as early as the 2 century B.C.E. The Rome Jewish Community was created before the Diaspora and it has survived without interruption up to today, under numerous religious, social and political conditions throughout the centuries. It was a large community during the Roman Empire period (when it counted at least 40,000 Jews and 13 Synagogues). Under the Popes, the Jews in Rome were subjected to limitations and hardships that varied depending on the ruling Pope.

In the Middle Ages, they were compelled at some stages to wear special badges, though during the Renaissance, the Papal Court demonstrated interest in Jewish culture. Until the 11 century C.E., Rome hosted at least 9 Synagogues scattered in the various neighbourhoods where the Jews lived. In 1555 Pope Paul IV forced all the Jews living in the area under his control (i.e. Central Italy) to either reside together in the newly organised ghetto of Rome or leave the territory.

Rome has always been an important centre of Jewish culture. Examples of the leading figures of this culture, include Tanna Mattya Ben Cheresh, author of Aruk and Shibboleh Halleket, the Cabalist Menachem Recanati, the poet Immanuel Romano, and the biblical exegete Ovadia Sforno. The first Jewish books in history were printed in Rome around the year 1472 C.E. For three centuries, i.e. up to 1870 C.E., Rome’s Jews endured a hard life in the ghetto. Those living in that poor area had heavy restrictions imposed on them, and the entire neighbourhood was overcrowded from the very beginning. There, Jews were only allowed to lend money or sell rags, and had to listen to Christian sermons in churches. Moreover, they were only allowed to maintain one synagogue inside the ghetto, and none outside it, so that in one building there were five Scola (Schools) together.

With the unification of Italy, in the 19 century C.E., the Jews obtained emancipation and became Italian citizens. To emphasize Jewish political equality, new Synagogues were built in Italy as monuments, and domed. However the very heart of the Jewish life in Rome is in the ghetto area, where the Jews meet and where there the Great Synagogue with its Museum, the Palace of Culture, the Jewish day schools, a bookshop, restaurants and fast food shops are all located.