Apr 13: Pope John Paul II pays “state visit” to the Great Synagogue of Rome…
…with the Pope and his selected viceroys to the left of the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark), and Rabbi Elio Toaff and his assistants to the right—and wearing taleism (prayer shawls) over their white High Holy Day robes—the Pope refers to the Jews as “our Elder Brothers,” which will resonate across the world Jewish community to this day….
(Down the road, Pope Benedict will visit a synagogue in his native Germany in 2007, and then the Park East Synagogue—on Park Avenue on NY’s East Side—Erev Pesach—the day leading–into Passover – April 18, 2008.)
The Roman Colosseum, constructed at least in part by Churban II (Temple II destruction) Judean prisoners, and the related Arch of Titus contiguous to the Colosseum, are within a mile of the Jewish ghetto. Having been sequestered by various popes to this tiny ghetto contiguous to the Synagogue–block for the 300 year period leading up until 1870, the 2200 year–old Jewish community of Rome, one way or another, has pretty much seen it all…