"Literature, History and Humanity: Reflecting on the Shoah in Italy through the Words of Primo Levi and the Jewish Community of Rome

On April 11^th, at 11.30am South Bend time and 5.30pm Rome time, students and faculty will meet in teleconference across the two locations to explore together questions of profound human significance. The event will centre around the reading of selected texts that, in different ways, highlight living points of intersection between such questions and our work at Notre Dame.

One group of readings, presented in Rome, will concern the history of the Jewish community of Rome, and in particular the events around 16^th October 1943, when more than a thousand members of the community, including elderly persons and children, were deported to Nazi concentration camps. The readings will also reflect the concrete connection between the Rome Global Gateway and the history of the Jewish community of Rome, represented by the Villa in which students studying at the Gateway live. In 1938-39, the same building housed a school for Jewish students after the racial laws of the Italian Fascist government had banned Jews from access to education. It thus stands as a reminder of the vital role education can play against violence and oppression. 

Another group of readings, presented on the main campus, will be from works by Turinese Jewish chemist and writer Primo Levi, one of the most important authors of the 20^th Century and best known for his book, If This Is A Man, an account of his time in Auschwitz. The readings will also reflect the importance of Notre Dame as a centre for the study of Primo Levi’s life and work. The Primo Levi Collection in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections of the Hesburgh Libraries is one of the most important collections of Primo Levi’s writings outside of Italy. As pointed out by Father Hesburgh at its inauguration, the Primo Levi Collection is a significant contribution to Notre Dame’s continued commitment to education as vital force for civil rights, human rights, and social justice. 

In this same spirit, and in commemoration of the anniversary of Levi’s death, Notre Dame students and faculty will gather on April 11th to reflect together on how significant voices from the past can help us affirm humanity and work responsibly towards the future. Please join us in this important conversation - the first in a yearly series of events bringing together communities in Rome and South Bend in vital inter-religious and inter-cultural exploration.