No one can deny the horrific events of World War II. Apart from large-scale destruction, the people behind the war tried to eliminate huge people groups. This fact has never struck me more than walking through the metal gates that lead to the Jewish Quarter in Rome. This was a place where an entire religious group was kept separate from the rest of the city, then eventually taken to infamous work and death camps. I find myself having lots of questions as to how, in the civilized city of Rome, these events came to pass. Why was there no one who could stand up against these acts? Did someone turn a blind eye, or were the leaders of the city truly powerless? Were there those in Rome who felt excluding a people group was necessary or morally right? The roundup of Jews in Rome is undeniably important to remember in the city’s history, as gruesome as it may be. We must remember the horrific acts, despite how they show Rome’s moment of weakness. Though the neighborhood stands proud today with the Great Synagogue, Kosher restaurants, and school children walking the streets, we must remember the events that took place here and remember the impact they have forever left on the city of Rome.