‘We’re all in this together’: Rome’s Jews rally to help Israelis stranded by Iran war
With Israel’s skies closed, local expats and institutions provide shelter, meals and medical help to hundreds stuck in the Eternal City — reviving a network born after October 7
Rossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
In the early hours of Friday, as Israel closed its airspace ahead of retaliatory Iranian attacks after Israel’s preemptive attack on Tehran’s nuclear program, Rome resident Nofar Kashi Moresco knew that it was time to spring into action.
Originally from Israel, Kashi Moresco, 43, has lived in the Eternal City for 15 years, working in the kosher tourism industry and developing a following on social media where she shares insights into Italian cuisine, Jewish heritage, and everyday life in Hebrew.
Following the Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023, when thousands of terrorists caught Israel off guard and plunged the country into a multifront war, Kashi Moresco began organizing a network of volunteers to assist Israelis stranded in Italy or fleeing the conflict.
With at least several hundred and possibly thousands of Israelis stuck in Rome (out of some 150,000 stranded across the world) on Friday, the expat understood that help was needed again.
“I have a few rooms that I rent out, and after October 7, some colleagues and I began looking for free accommodations we could offer to those in need,” she told The Times of Israel by phone.
“We quickly opened a WhatsApp group to help people with other urgent needs as well — like finding doctors, medications, and more.”
Within 48 hours of the current crisis, the WhatsApp group’s members increased from 200 to 1,000, including individuals seeking a place to stay, Shabbat meals, or any other form of assistance.
Kashi Moresco stressed that the efforts to help are a collective mission involving many of the city’s Jewish and Israeli organizations and institutions — from the Jewish Community and the Israeli Embassy to kosher restaurants and Chabad centers, the latter run by the Hasidic movement known for its global Jewish outreach. Dozens of volunteers have also joined the initiative.
“We all work together,” Kashi Moresco said, adding that they also coordinate with Italian authorities and police forces.
Shabbat meals were organized in the community school and in several synagogues and centers.
“We hosted about 300 people for dinner on Shabbat and another 50 for lunch,” said Rabbi Menachem Lazar, director of one of the Chabad Centers in Rome. “It was really beautiful, with people from all walks of life praying, eating, and spending time together. It was very unique.”
Lazar told The Times of Israel he would soon meet with other organizers of the network to discuss how to move forward with assisting people.
“So far, we tried to respond to an emergency, but it looks like this situation is going to last for a while,” he said.
Beth Steinberg (sister of Times of Israel culture editor Jessica Steinberg) is one of the Israelis stranded in Rome.
“Last week, I was in the US for work,” she told The Times of Israel by phone. “My flight left New York on Thursday afternoon. At one point, I checked the screen and saw we had about four hours left to Tel Aviv. But suddenly, the remaining flight time dropped to 45 minutes. I thought it was a mistake — and then the pilot announced that Israel had attacked Iran and we were being diverted to Rome.”
“It was pretty shocking,” she said.
Once the flight landed, it took a long time before the passengers could disembark.
“Luckily, I have been to Rome many times, and so I could find myself an Airbnb, and I had a place to stay,” Steinberg said.
Coincidentally, one of her sons was also abroad at the time.
“Natan was in Cologne, Germany, attending an academic conference,” Steinberg said. “The next day, he made his way to Rome as well. At least we’re having this unexpected adventure together.”
Although Steinberg joined one of the WhatsApp groups offering help to Israelis in Italy, she ultimately found a better housing option through personal contacts.
“A friend of a friend — who happens to be stuck in Jerusalem — was looking for someone to sublet her apartment in Rome,” she said.
“She’s been incredibly kind, offering it to us at a much more affordable rate,” she added, noting that the Airbnb cost some €300 per night.
Steinberg said it was difficult to be away from her family at home.
“My son is an adult with a disability, and my daughter-in-law is pregnant,” she said. “They’re not sleeping because of the constant alerts and missile attacks. I’m not sleeping either — I keep checking the news, trying to stay updated on what’s happening in Israel.”
“I’m not complaining — I’m not the one running to a shelter like they are — but being far away is incredibly hard,” she added.
Overall, Kashi Moresco said that she found people were calmer now than they were after October 7.
“There is less panic,” she said. “People seem to understand that it will take some time, but they will be able to go back. Now they have to be patient.”
The Times of Israel Community.