THIS SUPERB ACCOUNT OF ONE OF CIVILIZATION'S DARKEST HOURS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN, IF THIS QUOTE FROM PAGE 217 WERE FOLLOWED BY OTHER PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE WORLD AND HISTORY. "WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS THAT THEY VIEWED THE HOLOCAUST AS ABOVE AND BEYOND POLITICS, THEY UNDERSTOOD THEIR DUTY AS CHILDREN OF GOD, AS ITALIANS, AND AS HUMAN BEINGS, AND THEY HAD THE COURAGE OF THEIR CONVICTIONS." GREAT READING.

I recently saw Susan Zuccotti lecture at Seton Hall University and was very impressed by her scholarship, objectivity and above all, compassion. Being the daughter of an Italian Jew who suffered the humiliation of the racial laws during the late l930's, I was fascinated by the fact that only 15% of Italian Jews perished during the war. Professor Zuccotti presents this fact along with others still contending that while this was a relatively small percent compared with other countries in Europe, the pain and loss suffered must not be minimized. Similarly, she presents a very objective view of Pius XII involvement(or lack therof) in saving the Jews. While she states that there was no evidence of a clear directive from the Pope,she does acknowledge the behind-the-scenes efforts by so many in local churches, convents, monasteries and schools who sheltered Jews under very dangerous circumstances. Again, I have several friends and relatives of my father's generation in Italy and NYC who survived the war under these conditions. I am looking forward to reading her work.