Shliach Finds Rome Shul Defaced With Nazi Graffiti

Arriving at the Rome shul in the early morning, Rabbi Menachem Lazar of Chabad of Rome found Nazi graffiti scrawled across the shul’s sign. The community will be gathering at the site in a public show of Jewish resilience.

By Anash.org reporter

On Sunday morning, Rabbi Menachem Lazar, the Rebbe’s shliach to Rome and director of Chabad Piazza Bologna, arrived at Beis Shmuel, located on Via Garfagnana near Piazza Bologna. As he approached the entrance, he noticed that the sign outside the shul had been vandalized.

The Hebrew lettering of “Beis Knesses Beis Shmuel” had been defaced with black graffiti. A swastika was drawn across the sign, along with antisemitic slogans.

Later that day, security footage from the building showed a masked individual arriving shortly before midnight. The person marked the sign and then left the area.

Rabbi Lazar filed a police report and submitted the video footage. Authorities have opened an investigation and are working to identify the suspect.

Beis Shmuel serves as a center for tefilla, learning, and Jewish community life for local families, university students, and visitors.

The incident has drawn concern from community members. While Rome has seen occasional antisemitic incidents in recent years, this act stood out due to its location and the symbols used.

“It is shocking to see such symbols on the gates of a shul,” said one member of the community. “This is not just an attack on the Jews of Italy, but on freedom of religion and Jewish life in Europe.”

Cleanup of the sign began shortly after the discovery, and restoration work is underway. Community leaders have also begun coordinating a gathering outside Beis Shmuel. Local residents, shul members, and officials are expected to attend. The event will serve as a public response and a show of unity.