Top Italian Legislator: Rome Intends to Give Back Temple Artifacts to Israel
“We have in Rome the implements of the Jewish Temple. The Golden Menorah and many other Temple vessels and tools that we took from Jerusalem 2000 years ago."
At a recent large assembly in Jerusalem, a prominent Italian parliamentarian informed the Minister of Tradition that Rome holds the Jewish Temple's vessels and wishes to repatriate them to Israel.
Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi of Safed and son of the former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, as well as the father of the present Minister of Tradition, Amichai Eliyahu, conveyed a significant message. He shared that an influential member of Italy's governing party reached out to his son. This Italian parliamentarian revealed Rome's possession of the sacred Jewish Temple vessels and expressed the intention to return them to Israel.
Rabbi Eliyahu relayed that this high-ranking Italian official sought a virtual meeting with Israel’s Minister of Tradition, emphasizing its utmost importance. During their discussion, the Italian representative shared his perspective:
"From my office, I have a clear view of the Arch of Titus, a monumental and hard-to-miss structure. It prominently showcases Jewish slaves bearing the Jewish Temple’s artifacts into exile. Two millennia ago, we overcame you. We razed your Temple, inflicted great suffering on your people, and dispersed the Jews globally. Perhaps, as Jewish tradition suggests, this was warranted. However, after these 2000 years, Israel has transformed. With your return to the Land of Israel, perhaps it's also fitting that these artifacts come home. Gd's promise of your return seems to be manifesting now."