Skylar: What is your experience with being a Jew in Rome? How large is the Jewish community there?

Rabbi Di Porto: The Jewish community of Rome is the largest in Italy. Formally the two largest are Rome and Milan, which have a significant Jewish presence and a structured Jewish life, with all the structures necessary to conduct it. The Roman community has around 12,000 members, although the real number of Jews is certainly greater. There are over 15 synagogues active every Saturday, a Jewish school from elementary to high school, mikvaot, and numerous restaurants. In general, the Jews in Rome are a very ancient presence, being the oldest community in the Diaspora, and are quite integrated into city life.

Skylar: Have you felt a change in attitudes about Jewish people in your community since the start of the war?

Rabbi Di Porto: The outbreak of the war led to an increase in security measures and a temporary contraction of community activities, which have recently resumed with the usual frequency. There were, as throughout the world, demonstrations in favor of the Palestinians, with some isolated episodes of violence against the police, and posters against Israel. However, there were no particularly shocking episodes. Public opinion is quite aligned, with rare exceptions, against Israel. I am worried by the position of the church, which immediately assumed a cold neutrality and distance. The Pope defined Israel as terrorist state like Hamas!

Skylar: Have you been directly affected by antisemitism in the wake of the events on October 7th? Have you been directly affected by antisemitism before October 7th?

Rabbi Di Porto: Personally, I have never been a victim of antisemitic incidents in Rome, except when I was a boy at school, now 30 years ago. In Turin, where I was a rabbi for eight years, the BDS movement had put up leaflets against me because of my positions on Israel.

Skylar: Do you use any strategies to combat antisemitism, both in the past few months and throughout your life? Have you shifted any of your strategies?

Rabbi Di Porto: Personally, I have always tried to be sincere and frank in the public sphere, in particular on Israel and I believe that this attitude has been appreciated. In my synagogue I hold various lessons aimed at making Jews understand the mechanisms that lead to antisemitism and anti-Zionism.

Skylar: Is there anything that you would like to add that we have not touched on?

Rabbi Di Porto: Nothing special, we find ourselves in a particular moment in our history, and like the others it will pass, it will serve to understand that in the Diaspora we must not have illusions about our friends.