The Jews of Rome

Join us for a powerful three-part series exploring the extraordinary 2,000-year history of Jews in Rome. From their earliest presence in the imperial capital to life in the medieval city and the experience of the Ghetto, each session uncovers a different chapter of Jewish resilience, adaptation, and continuity. Through archaeology, archival texts, and the living memory of Rome’s streets, we’ll trace the evolving identity of one of the world’s oldest Jewish communities.
Part 1 – Jews in the Ancient City – Jews have lived in Rome since at least the 1st century BCE. While the Arch of Titus tells a story of defeat, archaeological and textual evidence from Rome and nearby Ostia reveal a vibrant and flourishing Jewish community during the Roman Empire. This session uncovers the daily lives, burial practices, and communal structures of Jews in ancient Rome.
Part 2 – The Long Jewish Middle Ages (550–1550) – Although few physical traces remain, Jewish life in medieval Rome was dynamic and well-documented. From papal bankers to thriving neighborhoods across the Tiber, Jews maintained a strong presence in the city. This class explores how the community evolved in a time of transformation, even as most of its synagogues vanished from view.
Part 3 – The Ghetto (1555–1870) –The creation of the Roman Ghetto marked a dark chapter in Jewish history—but one rich in cultural complexity. Despite harsh restrictions, a unique Jewish-Roman culture emerged behind its walls. This session examines life in the Ghetto over three centuries and the legacy that remains even after its physical destruction.
Samuel D. Gruber, Ph.D.  is an accomplished researcher, author, curator and consultant, and founder and managing director of Gruber Heritage Global (GHG) – a cultural resources consulting firm.  He served for a decade as Research Director of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad, for which he planned and supervised more than a dozen major countrywide cultural heritage surveys.  He was founding director of the Jewish Heritage Council of the World Monuments Fund (WMF) for which he planned and oversaw major documentation, planning and restoration projects in many countries. He is presently working on preservation projects in America and Europe.  Gruber received his B.A. in Medieval Studies from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Architectural History from Columbia University.  His many publications include American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community  and Synagogues. He has also co-authored Synagogues and Mass Graves Sites in Ukraine (2005); Survey of Historic Jewish Sites in the Czech Republic (1995), Survey of Historic Jewish Sites in Poland (1994; rev. 1995) and many scholarly and popular articles on medieval architecture, Jewish art and architecture, and historic preservation.
Part 1 – Program video
Part 2 – Program video
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Ghosts of a Holy War – The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict

 Join us for a powerful event with award-winning journalist Yardena Schwartz as she discusses her compelling new book, Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Sparked by a box of century-old letters found in a Memphis attic, Schwartz uncovers the story of a young American Jew killed in the 1929 Hebron massacre, a little-known but pivotal moment that she argues became ground zero for a conflict still raging today. Drawing from deeply personal archival material, wide-ranging interviews, and decades of context, Schwartz weaves a gripping and even-handed narrative that connects the past to the present, shedding new light on the events of October 7, 2023, and the enduring struggle for peace in the land both Israelis and Palestinians call home.
Yardena Schwartz is an award-winning journalist and Emmy-nominated producer who was based in Israel for a decade until 2023. Her reporting has appeared in dozens of publications, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Review of Books, The Economist, TIME, National Geographic and Foreign Policy. Yardena previously worked at NBC News and MSNBC. She graduated with honors from Columbia Journalism School in 2011, received an Emmy nomination for her work at MSNBC in 2013, and the RNA Award for Excellence in magazine reporting in 2016. Yardena now lives in New York’s Hudson Valley with her husband and children. Ghosts of a Holy War is her first book.

But It’s a Tradition! – Adapting Fiddler on the Roof in its 60th Year

Fiddler on the Roof, the classic musical composed by Jerry Bock, with lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and book by Joseph Stein, has been entertaining audiences for over 60 years. In the summer of 2024, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London celebrated this milestone with a new production, directed by Jordan Fein and featuring a majority Jewish cast. Adored by critics and playing to capacity crowds each night, the production would go on to receive a total of thirteen Olivier nominations, making it, along with Hamilton, the most nominated musical in the history of the awards. Join Rabbi Rose Prevezer, Fiddler on the Roof’s Jewish History and Culture Consultant, for a behind the scenes peek into how this much loved musical was adapted for the current moment. From cast to costumes, design to music, we will explore how the new production compares to past productions, how it succeeded in reaching different audiences, and how it can serve as a model for bringing authentic and increasingly diverse representations of Jewish culture and community to life on stage and screen.
Rabbi Rose Prevezer is  the founding Artistic Director of LABA LDN, a house of study and culture laboratory which uses traditional Jewish texts to inspire the creation of art, dialogue, and community. Rose is also a creative producer and consultant, working with organizations and individuals across the arts to deepen and expand their engagement with Jewish life and culture.
Program video