ROME – The Jewish Community presents restoration of ancient Aron HaKodesh

The Jewish Community of Rome has recently completed the restoration of an ancient Aron HaKodesh (the ark that houses the Torah scrolls) that is part of the Great Synagogue complex. The aron, which dates back to 1586 and is decorated with marble and gilded capitals, was originally located in the Sicilian Schola, the synagogue that served the Jews who immigrated from Sicily prior to the inauguration of the Great Synagogue in 1904. 

The restoration was presented on March 21 in a ceremony attended by the Chief Rabbi of Rome Riccardo Di Segni, the President of the Jewish Community Victor Fadlun, the Special Superintendent for Fine Arts of Rome Daniela Porro and architect Alessandro Mascherucci. 
The restoration was carried out under the direction of the Jewish Museum of Rome, thanks to a donation from the Sermoneta family in memory of Eleonora Funaro. This conservation project “is part of broader commitment to protect the Jewish historical and artistic heritage,” reads a note by the Jewish Community. To restore the Aron Hakodesh to its original beauty, the restorers Marco Borioni and Giordana Mieli cleaned the marble surfaces, recovered the original golden color of the decorations and restored the painted doors reinserting, following the rabbis’ instructions, the inscriptions that have become unreadable.