Measures to Preserve Jewish Catacombs in Rome Urged by Scholar

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

The Jewish catacombs in Rome were the subject of a lecture delivered here by Professor Lietzmann at the High School for Jewish Science.

“The Jewish catacombs,” Prof. Lietzmann said, “are also of interest to the Christian world for Christianity grew out of Greek Diaspora Judaism. Paul was a Greek Jew.” His researches in the catcombs in Rome, Prof Lietzmann said, brought to light many important inscriptions which show that there was not one united Jewish community in Rome, but a number of communities or rather congregations grouped around various synagogues. The congregations did not consist only of racial Jews, but included many proselytes. The gravestones afford conclusive proof of this fact. The catacombs were very artistically constructed and decorated with architectural forms. The walls were beautifully painted. Prof. Lietzmann conducted his researches in the Jewish catacombs which were situated in the Park of Prince Torlogne. There are about six other Jewish catacombs in which researches should he made, he said. Steps should be taken to preserve them from destruction.

The Italian Government and the Vatican are concerned about preserving the Christian catacombs. This vanished Greek Jewry was one of the most powerful factors in the development of world civilization, and the Jews of the world should be interested in preserving for the world these rehes of a great period in Jewish history, Dr. Lietzmann stated.