Coliseum Photo Goes Viral

By COLlive reporter

A unique photo of bochurim on Mivtzoim in Rome this summer has gone viral on the web, garnering comments from around the world.

Toive Weitman and Chaim Kreimer from Brazil are currently on Merkos Shlichus in Rome, assisting the activities of local Shliach Rabbi Menachem Lazar.

Aside from learning with people in the evenings, they have been doing Mivtzoim during the day, in areas like the ex-Jewish Ghetto where Rabbi Yitzchak Hazan, head Shliach of Rome, recently opened a new Chabad Center.

The two have been stationed on the streets near tourist attractions, offering locals and tourists to put on Tefillin and sign up for a letter in a Sefer Torah.

An Israeli student snapped a photo of Weitman helping a “Gladiator” put on Tefillin, which he posted on Facebook. The photo was shared and liked by thousands who were inspired by the image of the “Roman Gladiator” performing a Mitzvah, with many commenting on the photo as well.

“So – a Lubavitcher found a Jewish “Centurion” to put on the tefillin and say his prayers a few hundreds yards from the Arch of Titus AND the Colosseum – both paid for by Jewish loot when Rome killed over a million Jews and supressed the first Jewish rebellion destroying the Second Temple in 70AD. The IRONY is amazing,” wrote Peter A Aldea. “The Romans are gone – and Jews are celebrating IN FRONT of their monuments!”

The photo has been entered in a contest to promote Chabad of Rome, to vote for the photo click here.