Dear readers,

On the 17th of Tammuz, observed this year on July 8, we fast and mourn for several tragedies that occurred to our people. One of them is the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem by the Romans in 69 CE. This led to the tragic destruction of the Holy Temple and an era of exile that has not yet ended.

As I reflect on the upcoming days, it is hard to believe that this period of mourning is here again. I think of Jerusalem, I think of the Temple, and I think of Rome.

I was born and raised in Rome (my parents are Chabad Lubavitch emissaries there), where I knew and interacted with Jews who are direct descendants of the Jewish prisoners brought from Jerusalem in chains by General Titus after he destroyed the Holy Temple. In fact, these Jews are the only Romans who can date themselves that far back. In Rome, there are no identifiable descendants of the Romans who destroyed the Holy Temple and enslaved our people. But there are thousands of Roman Jews who follow the Torah of their ancestors, and whose children will no doubt welcome Moshiach, perhaps even at the gates of Rome, where, as Elijah the prophet once said, Moshiach awaits G‑d’s signal that the time has come.

Let us hope that we soon meet in Jerusalem.

Chani Benjaminson
On behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team