From North to South, Italian Jewish communities last week mobilized to express solidarity with the population of Israel under the gun of Hamas terrorists.
\nIn Rome, leaders and representatives of the main political forces participated in the demonstration organized by the Jewish community in front of the Great Synagogue, which is the main point of reference for Roman Judaism and the place that remembers an atrocious and incurable wound: the Palestinian attack on 9 October 1982 in which the two-year old Stefano Gaj Tach\u00e9 was killed. \u201cOur child, an Italian child\u201d, the President Sergio Mattarella would call him in an unforgettable speech that marked a turning point in the long and tiring journey of awareness.
\n\u201cJihad, Hamas, terrorists, undermine a model of coexistence. And we cannot accept those who undermine our right to exist, those who undermine the peace and the future\u201d. So Ruth Dureghello, president of the Roman Jews, who opened the marathon of testimonies. \u201cOur model – she then added, recalling some concepts recently expressed by the Head of State – looks to peace and the desire to coexist\u201d.
\nThe ceremony was concluded by the President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities Noemi Di Segni, who read the names of the victims, expressed concern for the latest distressing developments and invited the Western world \u201cnot to legitimize the Hamas terrorists\u201d. The Chief Rabbi of Rome Riccardo Di Segni concluded with the reading of a psalm, 120, which has a lot to say about the authentic meaning of peace. The initiative was introduced by Alex Zarfati, president of the Community Council, and by the sound of the alarm siren that he repeatedly rang and unfortunately continues to resound in the cities of Israel. Also heard, the voice of the young Jews (UGEI), represented by their Councilor Micol Di Gioacchino: \u201cWe cannot remain silent\u201d.<\/p>\n
In Milan, representatives of the civil society, politicians, and ordinary citizens gathered in front of the central synagogue in via della Guastalla. \u201cWe are here to remind you that Israel has the right to live in peace. We must not be afraid to express our solidarity with the Jewish state, a country that defends democracy\u201d, said the president of the Milan Jewish Community Milo Hasbani. Before reciting a prayer for the wounded in the synagogue, the Chief Rabbi Alfonso Arbib recalled the internal tensions in the country. Not only the rockets fired by Hamas, but also the violence, for example in Lod, where Arab demonstrators devastated the city and set fire to a synagogue.
\n\u201cI have seen terrible images. There were people who, speaking of the violence, recalled the pogrom against the Jews of Kishinev in early twentieth century. I did not believe that such an atmosphere could be experienced in Israel. We must rebel, not just those close to our community. Everyone must say that all this is unacceptable\u201d.
\nTo show their solidarity many politicians participated to the demonstration. Among them, Mario Vanni (Pd) representing the mayor; the Regional Councilor Gianmarco Senna (Lega), the Municipal Councilors Fabrizio De Pasquale (Forza Italia) and Manfredi Palmeri (Polo di Milano), and Simona Viola (president of the + Europa group).<\/p>\n
A sit-in, organized by the local Jewish community together with the Zionist Group, took place in Piazza Unit\u00e0 d\u2019Italia in Trieste (in front of the buildings of the town hall and the presidency of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region). The president of the Jewish Community Alessandro Salonicchio recalled that, in face of a threat such as terror, \u201cthe right to respond\u201d must be recognized to a democratic and sovereign state like Israel that cares about the safety of its citizens. \u201cLong live Israel, long live peace\u201d, he concluded while stressing his support to Israel. For his part, Chief Rabbi Alexandre Meloni pointed out that this dangerous situation for Israel arises from the \u201cgratuitous hatred\u201d of an entity that \u201cwants to massacre\u201d another people. The Rabbi also recited a prayer for civilians and soldiers involved in the defense of the country.
\nAnother demonstration took place in Naples, organized by the Jewish community in collaboration with the Italy Israel association and the Bezalel association \u201cas a sign of solidarity and closeness to the entire Israeli population under attack\u201d. In Turin
\nAmong the many messages of solidarity there is also that of the Jewish Community of Florence: \u201cThe Florentine Jews \u2013 reads a note – embrace our sisters and brothers who spend these hours in fear; in Yerushalaim, in Tel Aviv, throughout Israel, in the southern cities whose existence is perpetually tormented, and also the civilian population of Gaza and the Palestinian Territories. They pray strongly not only for the silence of guns but also for a stable solution that brings peace to the land and to the people \u201c.
\nFinally, in Turin the Jewish Community gathered in a moment of reflection and prayer online, which saw the participation of the President Dario Disegni, the Chief Rabbi Ariel Di Porto and Rav Alberto Somekh.
\n\u201cAfter a very hard lockdown that forced all citizens into their homes – said Di Segni – there was not even the time to get used to the greater freedom of movement achieved after great sacrifices: The sirens that resumed sounding in Israeli cities have called everybody repeatedly day and night to lock themselves up in the armored rooms of their apartments or in the anti-missile shelters\u201d. To this, he then pointed out, \u201ca substantially new phenomenon and a harbinger of great concern needs to be added: the involvement of part of the Arab-Israeli population in armed clashes against Jewish citizens and in fires set to synagogues, which triggered a spiral of violence that hardly will stop before the hostilities cease\u201d.<\/p>\n
(Above, the event in Rome)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"