Samuel Modiano's Bar-Mitzvah
Photo: Courtesy of Jewish community in Rome
Shoah survivor celebrates belated Bar-Mitzvah
Sixty-four years ago Samuel Modiano, 77, then a prisoner at Auschwitz, was prevented from celebrating his Bar-Mitzvah. On Monday, hundreds of members of the Jewish Community in Rome celebrated as he was called up to read the Torah in synagogue. 'We were moved when he wrapped the tefilin around the tattooed number on his arm,' community’s rabbi said
The Jewish community in Rome celebrated on Monday with 77-year-old Samuel Modiano on the occasion of his Bar-Mitzvah.
Modiano, a member of the community, was born in Rhodes. Sixty-four years ago, at the age of 13, he was a prisoner in the Auschwitz concentration camp and was unable to celebrate his Bar-Mitzvah. Modiano lost 60 family members in the Holocaust.
On Monday, in the Great Synagogue of Rome and in the presence of hundreds of community members, he completed what he had missed as a result of the terrible events that he endured in his youth.
"This is a wonderful example of the Jewish tradition beating in the heart of every Jewish person," said Rabbi Riccardo DiSegni, Chief Rabbi of Rome, at the end of the service. "The most touching moment was when Samuel exposed his arm to wrap the tefilin around it and uncovered the number tattoo."
After the Holocaust, Modiano immigrated to Congo in Africa, where he made a living as a merchant. During the civil unrest he was expelled from Congo and settled in Rome where he drew nearer to the Jewish community.
Rabbi DiSegni shared Modiano's story with the many guests who came to celebrate, telling them how he was led, as a young boy, together with his family to the concentration camps. During the service Modiano was very emotional. With tears in his eyes he thanked the Jewish community for being with him on the special occasion.
