TdG was founded in 1985 by Sandro Di Castro and Semi Pavoncello, in the same place of the previous Jewish Hospital's little shul where Rav Panzieri kept davening even during the Shoa and the German occupation of Rome. Jewish allied soldiers joined in the tefilla short after liberation in June 1944.
“In past times the building on the Tiber island hosted the Poor Disables’ Asylum. Even then, a Hazan went there every week to hold a minyan with the the old people who was not able to reach the Main Temple (or even earlier, the “cinque scole” - five shuls, which were later replaced by the stately building on the river bank). In 1937 the room officially became a Beit-haKneset, still for use of the asylum guests, and was furnished with a Teva, an Aron and benches in the same positions as they are now.
Next year the persecution of Jews of Italy started, with laws issued by the King, which returned the Jews to a discriminated status similar to the one of the ghetto era, which had been canceled in Rome as late as the Popes lost their independent State in 1870. The Community institutions kept working and the religious life continued as before, and so did the new little temple on the island.
Rosh haShana and Yom Kippur were celebrated even in 1943, when Rome was occupied by the German army. The shofar was then blown by the Hazan Giacomo Funaro, who in the second day of Sukkot was deported to Auschwitz together with over 1,000 Jews living in the little streets nearby of the traditional Jewish quarter; while the Hazan Amadio Fatucci was killed in the Fosse Ardeatine massacre five months later.
While most of the remaining Jews were forced into hiding, the life of the shul continued under the direction of Rav David Panzieri; it was then the only Beit haKneset remaining in Rome after all the others had been shut. It was still active the morning of June 5, when American 5th Army soldiers came there to recite the haGomel blessing for having survived the battles of that terrible year.
In 1970 the Asylum was replaced by a Jewish Hospital, and the Beit haKneset was restored and improved. At that time the ancient Aron from the centuries-old Scola Tempio was brought there. New Seforim and silver ornaments were given by donors.
The current name “Tempio dei Giovani” (Young People’s Shul) was given as a group of young men were davening there, for a while without the help of professional Rabbis or Hazanim. They ensured that the ancient Italian minhag with the peculiar Rome chanting were kept as a treasured tradition and taught to the following generations.
In the 90’s the Temple was enriched with the colorful glass windows and the brass mechitza designed by the painter Aldo Di Castro. The TdG by now became fashionable in Rome for cozy, warm celebrations of Bar/Bat Mitzwah’s and Weddings, and every Shabbat of the year a tasty Kiddush is offered to members and visitors from all parts of the world.”
