The Roman era The museum traces the history of the Jews and, in particular, their relationship with Rome. This goes back to the time of
Judas Maccabeus who, in the mid-2nd century BCE, petitioned Rome for help in opposing the
Hellenistic Kings to restore Jewish worship in
Jerusalem. According to tradition the two ambassadors sent to petition the
Roman Senate were received by Jews already living in Rome. In 63 BCE,
Judea was conquered by
Pompey and in 70 CE it was annexed to the
Roman Empire by
Vespasian and
Titus after the
First Jewish–Roman War. This resulted in many Jews coming to Rome, particularly as slaves. During the
imperial period there were said to have been as many as twelve synagogues in the city. Archaeological evidence comes from two Jewish
catacombs at Villa Torlonia and
Vigna Randanini. The museum displays plaster casts of catacomb tombstones presently held in the
National Roman Museum and other museums in Rome.
The Middle Ages From the 4th century CE Jews spread throughout Europe and were often forced to leave areas in which they had settled. In 1492 all Jews were expelled from Spain. Others were expelled from southern Italy, and central and northern Europe. Many refugees made their way to Rome. There was therefore a diversity of Jewish traditions in the city and these are well represented in the museum's collection of manuscripts and printed documents as Rome was a noted centre for the production of manuscripts.
The ghetto Despite implementing many restrictions, Rome is the only city in Europe never to expel Jews. However, by the early 16th century Jews represented about one-thirteenth of Rome's population and efforts were made to convert them. As well, copies of the
Talmud were burnt. This culminated in 1555 when a
papal bull established the ghetto, which continued in existence until 1870. The museum has considerable documentation and illustrations from this period. •
Abolition of the ghetto The museum provides interesting illustrations of changes after Italian Unification in 1870 to the area occupied by the Ghetto, and traces the steps taken to develop the Great Synagogue. Rome's was the last European ghetto to be abolished.
Fascism and the German Occupation In 1938,
Mussolini and
King Victor Emmanuel III, under the influence of
Adolf Hitler, signed laws known as the “Defence of the Race”, which removed all civil rights from Jews in Italy and forced them to leave government posts. A number of newspapers and magazines of the time are exhibited. Subsequently, the Jews experienced further persecution, with shops being raided and some people having to undergo forced labour. Following the overthrow of Mussolini and the Italian
armistice with the
Allies in September 1943, the Germans occupied Rome. The Jewish community was told that it would be left alone if it handed over 50 kg of gold. Examples of receipts given to those who contributed, including non-Jews, are on display, together with files held on Jews in the SS Headquarters. The “agreement” was not honoured, however, and on 16 October 1943 the Germans rounded up and deported around 2000 people to concentration camps, few of whom returned. The museum records this, as well as the
Ardeatine Massacre when Jews and others were murdered in retaliation for a resistance attack on German troops.
Daily life in the ghetto Exhibits in this section include coverage of the Jewish home, the kitchen, weddings and celebration of religious holidays.
The five synagogues Many of the exhibits come from the building housing five synagogues (
Cinque Scole: Scola del Tempio, Scola Nova, Scola Siciliana, Scola Castigliana, and Scola Catalana), that was torn down in 1908. These include curtains, inlays, marble slabs and chandeliers. Other items were preserved in the Spanish Synagogue. Photos of the former synagogues are also displayed.
The gallery of ancient marble This is a collection of marble carvings and engravings from between the 16th and 19th centuries, which contain important documentary evidence of the history of the Jewish Community in Rome. Some refer to legacies left by wealthy families, others record the purchase of cemetery plots. These marble slabs, were an important element in the decoration of the Cinque Scole.
The textiles These were mainly taken from the five synagogues. They include
Renaissance velvets and lace of the
Baroque period. For the most part they were bought second-hand from Roman nobility and then adapted for use in the synagogues, with the application of embroidery and trimmings. ==References==