Jewish Ghetto Free-write

Ciao. The “former” Jewish ghetto is very interesting. Not only are there contradictions in that most Jews cannot afford to live there any longer, but the whole area’s history is filled with segregation, violence, and borders. What I mean by this is that the history in that specific area of Rome is pretty much filled with the mistreating of the Jewish people, and now, even though they have a place to call their own and are not technically living there. This is a border. Despite this border, the Jewish community has an area that is THEIRS. They have their places of worship, they have Jewish-run stores, and they have community in the ghetto. This is great. I’ve noticed that it’s a good thing, but still can’t get past the borders that are so extremely evident in this area.
When taking the tour with the lady she kept on saying “former” Jewish Ghetto. When thinking about this keyword that she kept on repeating, I was thinking to myself that it might have two meanings. Maybe she only was thinking of one meaning, but I was thinking about two. The first meaning, that I think she meant, “was that it was no longer a “ghetto” but just a neighborhood. This is only if she determined that “ghetto” was a derogatory term. I don’t think it is completely in the sense of the “Jewish Ghetto.” I think the word is old, and previously did not have a derogatory meaning like we see it today. Anyways, the other interpretation is that it could also mean that this neighborhood is the “former” Jewish Ghetto because it no longer belongs to the Jews. Meaning it is no longer their community. My interpretation of this is that the segregation has affected the community so much that it technically is not even theirs anymore; it’s the “former” Jewish Ghetto.
My time at the Jewish Ghetto was good. I felt personal borders only in the part where we went into the synagogues and had to wear the hats. This made me feel uncomfortable. I’m Catholic, and I think that putting Jewish hats on is somewhat wrong, especially in a Synagogue. I worship one God, and I know the act of putting this hat on is not worshiping another god, but it just made me feel uncomfortable, and was a border. As far as feeling uncomfortable around the Jewish religion, I don’t. I have Jewish friends, and I feel completely comfortable talking about this religion, and learning how they feel about this segregation that occurred in Rome. When I asked my friend Max about it, he explained that it was good to learn the history of Italian Jews, and is glad that there’s still a designated community for the Jews.
I enjoyed hearing about this area of Rome, its history, and the borders that I’ve observed. Great experience, especially the guided tour, where I learned a lot of great information about the history of the Jews.