Life in the Roman Ghetto was a difficult one, characterized by extreme poverty due to the severe occupational restrictions the Jewish community had imposed upon them. There was no colocation for the Jewish community; the only option for them was the Roman Ghetto. The only occupations in which the Jewish community could engage were unskilled ones such as fish mongering, being ragmen, or pawn broking. The latter occupation excited the hatred of many Christians against them. There was no relief even in playing the lottery as the Jewish community were only allowed to bet on low numbers and ones that all belonged to the same group of ten.

When Jews ventured outside the ghetto, the women had to wear a yellow veil which was the same colour worn by the prostitutes, and the men had to sport a yellow cloth, called a “sciamanno”. During Christian feasts, the Jews had to amuse the Christians by taking part in humiliating games. The Jewish community in Rome were forced to swear a yearly loyalty to the Pope at the Arch of Titus which was erected in celebration of the Roman sack of Jerusalem.