Edward Marchesi On October 6, 2026, the Great Synagogue of Rome hosted a commemoration ceremony for the victims of the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and the October 9, 1982, synagogue attack in Rome.
The presence of religious, diplomatic, and political representatives underscored the event's importance for collective memory and for policies to combat anti-Semitism.
Last updated: October 7, 2026.
Why the ceremony was called
The commemoration aimed to intertwine the memory of two distinct but connected events in the public perception: the wave of attacks that hit Israel on October 7, 2023, and the attack of October 9, 1982, in which the child Stefano Gaj Tachè lost his life.
The promoters highlighted the role of memory in preserving historical truth and countering the spread of hatred and denialism.
The ceremony began with a minute of silence observed simultaneously by all 21 Italian Jewish communities and concluded with the playing of the Italian national anthem and the anthem of the State of Israel, a gesture interpreted as a sign of international solidarity and civil unity.
Religious and diplomatic interventions
Among the speakers, Livia Ottolenghi, president of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI) , addressed the new forms of hatred affecting communities and urged young Jews "to live with our heads held high, proud of our history." Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, noted a shift in the public perception of Jews, calling it an "epochal shift" that has transformed their social role from being merely victims to being often accused of alleged complicity.
Israel's Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, reiterated diplomatic support and emphasized the need to preserve documentary heritage against Holocaust denial. Peled cited words attributed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, describing October 7 as "the day Israel's soul was torn apart," and warned against attempts to relativize the facts.
Institutional presences and political messages
The ceremony was attended by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference , who prayed for the victims, and General Pasquale Angelosanto, national coordinator for the fight against anti-Semitism, who reaffirmed the commitment of law enforcement. The event was attended by political figures from across the political spectrum, including Lucio Malan of the Brothers of Italy party, Giovanni Donzelli, Maurizio Gasparri, Maria Elena Boschi, Ivan Scalfarotto, Graziano Delrio, Piero Fassino, Maria Stella Gelmini, and Roberta Angelilli.
The presence of Rome Prefect Lamberto Giannini and Police Commissioner Roberto Massucci was noted as a guarantee of the ceremony's security and a testament to the local institutions' commitment to protecting communities.
Community Voices: Remembrance and Warnings
Victor Fadlun, president of the Jewish Community of Rome, urged against giving in to fear and denounced the risk that the gradual relativization of the facts could erase the reality of the victims. Gadiel Gaj Tachè, brother of the child Stefano, recalled the personal loss and asked that his brother's memory serve to counter hatred and promote mutual respect.
The speakers emphasized how contemporary anti-Semitism also manifests itself through hostility toward symbols of identity such as the kippah or the Star of David, and called on society as a whole to support educational and solidarity measures aimed at protecting the freedom to express one's religious identity.
Documentation, memory and requests
During the ceremony, the call to build a legacy of documentation to counter denial and preserve the historical truth about the commemorated events was reiterated. The organizers asked institutions to maintain high levels of attention on the issue and to translate remembrance into concrete actions for security and social cohesion.
Upon leaving the Tempio Maggiore, the participants renewed their commitment to keep the memory of the victims alive and to be vigilant against all forms of discrimination and violence, leaving open the public discussion on the protection of communities and the prevention of hatred.