Marco Misano and Professor Steven Fine at the Arch of Titus

Marco Misano and Steven Fine at the Arch of Titus (photo: Courtesy of Marco Misano tour group)

A licensed Jewish tour guide in Rome at the arch of Titus is the starting point and the focal point of my brief article. In this way, I hope to convey how my work as licensed tour guide in the eternal city  is focused on telling a Jewish story of one of the prominent relief panels of the arch of Titus in Rome commemorating the scene of victory—for the Romans—and the loss for the Jews. The Roman soldiers march treasures from Jerusalem’s Temple through the streets of Rome. Bearing signs, the inner panel depicts the soldiers carry first the table of the showbread, along with trumpets, and then the golden menorah. The scene commemorates the triumphal march that took place after Titus destroyed and sacked the Temple in 70 C.E., one of the most important events in Jewish history of the first Jewish War of 66 CE to 74 CE. I draw much from the work of historian Steven Fine, Churgin Professor of Jewish History at the Yeshiva University and director of the YU Center for Israel Studies. He led an international team intent on understanding the arch of Titus through the state of art technology, demonstrating that the menorah on the inside relief panel of the arch was of “golden color” that is consistent with biblical, early Christianity, and Talmudic writings and particularly eye-witness description of the golden menorah by the first-century Jewish historian Josephus.

Telling the story about the Jewish history in Rome and what it is like to be Jewish in Rome are tours designed to provide other Jews who serve their Jewish communities of what it means to be Jewish.

Jews are people of the book, reflecting on laws from the Torah and rabbinic literature, legal opinions from a variety of halakhic authorities, the Midrashic tradition, rabbinic interpretations, kabbalistic writings, and Hasidic tales, to name a few.

There is no other monument in existence where Jewish tour guides can bring to life the ancient past into the present tense.The arch of Titus allows for all Jews to reflect on how to continue to serve G-d while being Jewish, without the Bet-Hamikadish and its service.

The Arch of Titus today (photo by author)

I would like to share a commentary from colleague Dr. Marco Misano who takes his clients to see the extraordinary 19th century relief displaying  arch of Titus in the New Wing of the  Vatican Museums; the panel board in room two of the Jewish Museum of Rome; and the 2000 year old monuntal arch inside the Roman Forums.

I am mindful that Jewish tour guides in Rome  explain their contempt for Titus as the destroyer of Jerusalem. They explain that Jews throughout the centuries have avoided passing under the Arch. And,  most importantly, they discuss Titus haRaha, says Misano.

Is there any particular question tourists ask you on your tours? 

Marco Misano:
Marco? Where is the Menorah today? If I knew, I would tell you.  However, in the Heliodorus fresco in the Raphael Rooms in the Vatican Museums, an item of immense interest can be found which I share on my tours.

Heliodorus fresco in the Raphael Rooms in the Vatican Museums (photo by author)

This past hot summer 2024, while Misano was leading his private tour to the Arch of Titus, he happened to bump into Professor Steven Fine with his Yeshiva University students. And, for a few minutes ,as you can see in the photo, Steven Fine and Marco Misano debate in front of the Arch of Titus –and it’s a classic conundrum that two Jews  offer three opinions!

Steven Fine and Marco Misano debate in front of the Arch of Titus –and it’s a classic conundrum that two Jews  offer three opinions! ( photo: Courtesy of Matco Misano tour group)

So what was the outcome of your discussion with Dr Fine?

Marco Misano:
In the end, we agreed on one thing: Hey, Titus, where are you? WE ARE STILL HERE!!