Jewish Experience in Rome!

Today it seemed that my Jewish heritage was following me all around the city. To start with, on our walk to school we passed a beautiful synagogue. It was by far the most elaborate I have ever seen. I should add that although I am Jewish, I am not very religious, but I really thought it was neat to see the synagogue and be able to tell my grandfather about it. I know Professor Benson told us we would be visiting it sometime during the summer, and now that I have seen it I am really excited to see the inside. Also, today on our walk home from school we passed a street performer playing a violin. The strange thing was that he was playing the song "Hava Negila", which is a Jewish folk song that means "let us rejoice"! I couldn't believe that in a city dominated by Catholics, this man was playing a song played at almost every Jewish wedding and bar and bat mitzvah! My final Jewish experience of the day came when I passed by a Roman Jewish restaurant. They had all sorts of Kosher meats and foods. I was so shocked to see this restaurant, and I can not wait to come back! Ilana, a fellow Jew in the program, is planning on coming back with me too!