Exclusive Interview: Canadian Tour Guide David Walden in the Vatican Museums

Undoubtedly, the Vatican Museums contain many of the world’s treasures. And it is still a  mystery for many Jewish tourists as to whether the Vatican has ever had the vessels of the  Holy Temple of Jerusalem among its possessions.An interest in the Vatican Museums lies far  beyond these “myths” and “legends”. It actually starts with the attempt to “scratch the  surface” of the lives of the Renaissance artists, eventually the only ones free to express  themselves beyond the strict boundaries censuring everyday society. They added meaning to  their works – layer per layer – encoding their frescoes with allusions and messages, many  which were intended to be discovered when the frescoes were first unveiled. And many more  such allusive meanings have been deciphered through the centuries, even until today. I was fortunate to collaborate and work with both Roy Doliner, a native New Yorker, and David  Walden, from Toronto, founders of the Rome for Jews Cultural Association who had been  living in Rome for some time and working on a book regarding the Jewish and Kabalistic  secrets of perhaps the greatest work of art ever: the Sistine Chapel.

In the interview David Walden reflects on how it is to be the only Canadian Observant Jew in  Rome’s Jewish community who is authorized by the Vatican to provide tours for Jewish  visitors. 

Here is my interview with him: 

What brought you to the Eternal city and inspired you to begin a cultural association  dedicated to provided Jewish themed tours and services in Rome and the Vatican?

If anyone should ever doubt the saying “all roads lead to Rome” here I am thank God in the  living flesh to tell you that you’re way off mark! Who would of ever thought a North  American Jewish boy with a yeshiva background would ever visit Rome, let alone delve into it’s history and walk people through it’ streets and squares, visiting castles and monuments not  to mention the Vatican Museums and the infamous Sistine Chapel? 

The history of the Jewish people and the city of Rome are forever intertwined, it is finally no  more a secret that the living Jewish community of Rome today is the longest lasting  uninterrupted Jewish community in the world…… 23 centuries in the making…..  The Jewish community of Rome and it’s vast history sure have a mouthful to offer for a  willing ear. From Roman Republican rulers and emperors to popes, cardinal and bishops, the  Jews of Rome and the Jewish nation at large has always been more than just a relevant  variable in the human equation. Roman historians, medieval writings, ancient catacombs and  tombs not to mention Renaissance fresco, painting and sculpture are all oozing with mention  of God’s chosen people – it’s funny to think that Michelangelo Buonarotti’s most famous  works are practically all of Jewish subjects ( Moses, David,) 

Can you tell me what hardships your association has faced during this pandemic? Covid has been disastrous to everyone in many industries including the tourism industry, our  hearts are with everyone out there who is suffering from anything at all whether it be health,  social or financial. Our sound advice – Believe in God and do kindness with his creations and  we will witness miracles! 

What do you think makes your cultural association stand out? Can you share your  story? 

Rome for Jews under the direction of it’s founder Roy Doliner was the absolute first to offer  tours of the Sistine Chapel from the Jewish perspective, using the research and findings and  eventually of Roy Doliner’s book co authored with Rabbi Benjamin Blech entitled The Sistine Secrets (Harper Collins 2008). We’ve been offering the Sistine Secrets tour since  before the actual publishing of the book along with Jewish theme tours like the Jewish ghetto  and it’s infamous Jewish Museum, the Ancient city with the Roman forums, Colosseum and  the Arch of Titus, walking tours of the most important squares, fountains and monuments as  well as specialty tours such as Castel Sant’Angelo, the villas at Tivoli, Pompeii ,the Amalfi  coast not to mention cooking classes, pizza and pasta making and Gelato – italian ice cream  experiences.

Which story from the Torah is your favorite that Michelangelo frescoed on the Sistine  ceiling? 

My personal favorite is the Garden of Eden which clearly shows Michelangelo’s knowledge  of popular Jewish midrash, showing a fig tree as opposed to the “Apple tree” and in how  Adam and Eve are first perceived as physically “ideal” and how they’ve “aged” immediately  after. It is also worth noting how the snake (or serpent) is portrayed and mirrored into the  angel chasing them out of Eden. 

I understand that Rome for Jews is the first Orthodox Jewish Cultural Association  authorized by the Vatican Museums. Do you think Pope Francis knows about you?  Have you met the Pope? And if you were to meet Pope Francis what would you say? 

While we can never be sure, I’d like to think the the Pope is well aware of our cultural  association in as much as our Founder Roy Doliner has had the pleasure of meeting him on  more than one occasion, I personally have seen him numerous times at public audiences but  never had the pleasure of meeting Pope Francis in person. 

I guess if I had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis, I would tell him how grateful I am for  putting down anti-Semitism and for his outward admiration for the Jewish people.  

Do you believe that Michelangelo had a hidden agenda to remind the Church that its  roots were grounded in the Torah given to the Jewish people? Can you share at least  one specific detail (out of many) found in the Sistine chapel? 

It is indeed difficult to doubt that Michelangelo had a hidden agenda when painting the Sistine Chapel. While it is impossible to know for sure exactly what Michelangelo was  thinking, the facts speak for themselves in that 95 percent of the 12,0000 square foot ceiling  is Jewish and the rest Pagan – not something the Pope at the time nor anyone else would have  ever expected. The miraculous days of Creation which Michelangelo chooses to represent  (and with which the Torah itself begins) is to show that only God himself created everything  that is, that was, and that will. Moreover, the true function of those who wish to call  themselves representatives of his must conduct themselves with utmost care and dignity at all  times.

What other areas do you show and explain on your tours in the Vatican Museums  besides the Sistine Chapel? How would you describe your three-to-four-hour walking  tour in The Vatican? 

The Vatican museums proudly hosts 54 galleries and more than 20 full collections of the  world’s most precious art. Our tours focus on the most notable collections which “Can’t be  Missed” and of course, we are THRILLED to tailor make the tour to the interests of our  visitors, especially those who are interested in the Jewish Lapidary Gallery (at this time  closed to the public). 

Here are just a few of our not to be missed stops on our tours and what every visitor to the  vatican museums should to see. 

The Simonetti Stairway 

The Courtyard of the Pinecone 

The Belvedere Appolo 

The Laocoön 

The Room of the Muses 

The Round Room 

The Gallery of the Candelabra 

The Tapestry Gallery 

The Gallery of geographical maps 

The Raphael Rooms 

The Sistine Chapel 

…..all of this and so much more……..and from a Jewish historical perspective……we can’t wait  to show you! 

Thank you for your time  

Brenda Lee Bohen: 

Brenda is a Latina and a proud Veteran of the United States Army Reserves. She holds dual  citizenship in both the United States and Italy. She has earned a bachelor’s degree in the  History of Art and Architecture from DePaul University, a Master of Science in Historic  Preservation from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. She is a licensed and accredited  tour guide in the Vatican and Jewish Museum of Rome and continues advanced scholarship  at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago.