The Conversion of the Chief Rabbi of

On February 13, 1945, Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Kappler, ordered the Jewish leaders the world’s leading news to come up with 50 kilograms of agencies broke the news gold in 24 hours. If they failed to deliver, he would begin the that Professor Israel Zolli, deportation of all men of Jewish chief rabbi of Rome, origin. The community managed to collect 35 kilograms. Another renowned biblical scholar, 15 had to be found. Only a few had been received into the hours remained. In this dramatic situation Rabbi Zolli turned to . Pope Pius XII for help. The Holy Father immediately assured him of his assistance. However, as He was born in 1881, in , it turned out, the Catholics of in the region of Poland that was Rome had already collected the then under Austrian rule. For 35 15 remaining kilograms of gold years, before assuming the chief and delivered it to the Jewish rabbinate in Rome, he had held community. On 29 September the same position in . After Rabbi Eugenio Zoli 1943, Commander Nogara, a his baptism he considered himself not a Zoller. Derived from a well-known family delegate of the special administration converted but a completed Jew, since the of rabbinical scholars, his mother always of the Holy See, sent the following Catholic Church was the fulfillment of the dreamed that one of her five children would memorandum to the Secretary of State, promise of . In his words, the Old become a rabbi. Israel was her youngest Cardinal Maglione: “Yesterday Prof. Testament is God’s coded telegram to son. He studied at a rabbinical school and Zolli came at 2 p.m. to tell me that they mankind, and the one cipher, the one also read philosophy at university, first in had received the required 15 kilograms code to reading its contents, is Vienna, then in Florence. In 1920, he was of gold from the Catholic community, Christ, who is both true God and true appointed chief rabbi of Trieste. In order and that for the time being there was Man. As an eyewitness to , to qualify for Italian citizenship in 1933, no need for them to resort to our help.” Zolli insisted that it was precisely the he was obliged by the fascist authorities (Actes et Documents du Saint Siège annihilation of Christian principles by to change his surname to Zolli. Soon after, relatifs a la seconde guerre mondiale. Vol. Fascist ideology that contributed to that he assumed the chair of the Department 9, Cittá del Vaticano 1975, 494.) catastrophe. After the war he would of Hebrew Language and Literature at the Even though they received their 50 write: “I am convinced that when this University of Padua. A few years later, kilograms of gold, the Nazis arrested over war is over the only way of checking anti-Semitic purges forced him to resign 2000 Jewish men, women and children the forces of destruction and achieving his post. in the early hours October 16. The rest the reconstruction of Europe will be In 1940 he became chief rabbi of of the Jewish community went into by accepting the principles of the Rome. Throughout the dramatic years of hiding. Rabbi Zolli, his wife and daughter Catholic faith, that is, the idea of God the war, he played a crucial role as leader managed to find refuge in the home of a and universal brotherhood embodied of the Jewish community in Rome, which Catholic family, and remained there until in Christ — not a brotherhood based included both antifascists and those who the liberation of Rome by the Allies. Zolli on race and übermensch , for there is collaborated with the authorities. With subsequently resumed his duties as chief “neither Jew nor Greek…neither slave the occupation of Rome by the German rabbi. In July 1944, he presided over nor free…neither male nor female; for forces in early September of 1943, the a solemn prayer service in the Roman you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Ga. 3: Jewish community found itself in a Synagogue. The event was broadcast by 28) . critical situation. On September 27, the radio, allowing him to publicly thank Eugenio Zolli’s Polish name was Izrael SS commander of the Roman garrison, Pope Pius XII and the President of the 25 United States for the assistance they had over your head as though he were blessing degli Angeli Church in Rome. Only 15 rendered the in Rome during the you.” Zolli recalls: “I was stunned, but of his most trusted friends attended the time of the Nazi persecutions. On 25 still felt at peace. I pretended not to celebration. No journalists were invited. July 1945, during a private audience with understand her, but she repeated what Israel Zolli took the name Eugenio (in Pius XII, Rabbi Zolli and the president of she had said word for word. Then I heard honor of Pius XII, whose Christian name the Jewish community thanked the Holy our daughter Miriam calling me from her was Eugenio Pacelli) and his wife took the Father for his extraordinary, personal room: ‘D-a-d-d-y!’ I went to her and asked name Maria. That night a news reporter involvement in the fate of the Jews. They her what she wanted. She said, ‘You were telephoned him from the United States, also asked him to convey their thanks to talking about Jesus Christ, weren’t you? asking him if he had been received into the Catholic population of Rome. At great You know, I had a dream today in which I the Catholic Church. Zolli could not deny personal sacrifice and risk to their lives, saw the tall figure of Jesus robed in white; it. The following day, all the main wire these people — both lay and religious I don’t recall what happened afterwards.’ services in America and Europe broke — had provided assistance to thousands A few days later I resigned my post in the the news that the chief rabbi of Rome had of Jews by accepting them become a Catholic. Zolli lived close to the Synagogue. As soon “Neither Jew nor as the news of his conversion to Catholicism became known, Greek…neither he began receiving threatening slave nor free… and abusive phone calls. The Hebrew monthly appeared with neither male nor its cover bordered in black. Zolli was immediately forced to move female; for you are out of his apartment. His wife all one in Christ and daughter found refuge in a cloister, and Professor Zolli took Jesus” (Ga. 3:28). up temporary residence at the Gregorian University. Pius XII invited the Zollis for a private into their cloisters, convents, audience at the Vatican. Deeply rectories and private homes. moved, they expressed their Zolli’s Baptism joy and gratitude to the Holy Father. They also expressed their love and forgiveness of Rabbi Zolli made his final their fellow Jews, who could decision to be received into not understand their decision to the Catholic Church in July of become Catholics. “Now that I 1944. The gift of faith came to am baptized,” observed Emma, him after many years of spiritual “I am unable to hate anyone. I growth and sincere seeking after love everyone.” the truth. In August of 1944, During his stay at the Zolli asked the Jesuit professor archives photo LOA Gregorian University, Zolli Paulo Cezza at the Gregorian University Jewish community.” received numerous visits from friends to prepare him, quietly and discreetly, for Zolli’s decision came as a great and enemies. Influential American Jews the Sacrament of Baptism. shock to his community. Seeing his dropped in to persuade him to return to the But first he had to resign his post determination, the president accepted his bosom of Judaism, offering him whatever as chief rabbi of Rome. Jesus made it resignation with great sorrow. He offered sum of money he wished. With great clear to him that his time of service at him the post of director of the rabbinical serenity, he refused every offer. A number the Synagogue was drawing to a close. college. Zolli refused to accept it. In his of prominent Protestants also came to his In September of 1944, on the Feast of letter of reply, the president expressed door. Recognizing him as a scholar with Reconciliation, he presided over the great surprise and sorrow. Professor Zolli a deep knowledge of the Scriptures, they solemn prayer service in the Synagogue was the most suitable candidate for the asked him to prepare a refutation of the for the last time. During the service post. Wishing to avoid negative reactions, doctrine of Papal Primacy on biblical Christ appeared to Zolli in a vision. He Zolli did not reveal his main reason for grounds. Zolli’s response was a book was dressed in a white robe and radiated declining the offer. Thus, having freed entitled Petrus , in which he used Holy an ineffable sense of peace. In his heart himself of all extraneous responsibilities, Scripture to prove the case for Peter’s Zolli heard him say, “You are here for the he, along with his wife Emma and primacy and the succession of Popes. last time.” That evening at home, his wife daughter Miriam, prepared to receive the “Since protesting is not testifying, I do told him: “Today when you stood before Sacrament of Baptism. The event took not intend to trouble anyone by asking the Ark of the Torah, I imagined I saw place on February 13, 1945, in a private the question: Why did they wait 1500 the white figure of Jesus placing his hand chapel adjoining the sacristy of S. Maria years to protest? For fifteen centuries the 26 Catholic Church was recognized as the true Church of God by the entire Christian world. No one in all honesty can dismiss those 1500 years out of hand and claim that the Catholic Church is not the Church of Christ. I can accept only that Church which was proclaimed to all creatures by my ancestors, the twelve apostles, who, like me, came out of the Synagogue.”

The Path to Conversion

Already as a small boy in Poland, Zolli had many Catholic friends. “We, Hebrew children, loved our Christian friends,” he wrote, “and they loved us. We knew nothing about racial differences. We knew our religions differed. That is why when it came to religion class we went to different rooms. Once the lesson was over we were together again…” archives photo LOA While visiting the home of his friend replied sadly: “My conscience is clear. to prayer and partook earnestly of the Stas, he would stare with wonder at the I have renounced nothing. Isn’t the God Eucharist. He often expressed his great crucifix on the wall. It was then that of Saint Paul also the God of Abraham, joy over being a Catholic. “You cradle he first began asking questions about Isaac and Jacob? Saint Paul converted. Catholics do not realize what great the person of Jesus. This prompted Did he forsake the God of Israel in doing treasures the faith and Christ’s grace him to read the Gospels. With the so? Did he stop loving Him? It would be represent. People such as I, who have passage of years, his knowledge of the absurd to say yes.” received the grace of faith only after New Testament grew deeper. In large After being baptized, Professor Zolli long years of seeking, can appreciate the measure, Zolli attributed his conversion devoted considerable time every day greatness of this gift and experience the to his shattering discovery that the enormous joy of being a Christian.” prophecy of Yahweh’s Suffering Servant After several months, Zolli was able contained in the four songs of the prophet to find living quarters on the outskirts of Isaiah (42:1-7; 49:1-5; 50:4-9; 52:13; Rome and resume family life with his 53:12) was fulfilled in the suffering wife and daughter. He began teaching and crucified Jesus. He came to this Hebrew language and literature at the conclusion after many years of studying Biblical Institute. All the while he lived a the texts of the Old and New Testament. life of intense prayer. With all the zeal of In this, expert scholarly exegesis and a new convert, he gave guest lectures at his perfect knowledge of Hebrew and various universities throughout Europe Biblical Greek aided him. His scholarly and the United States. His apostolic studies culminated in the conviction zeal was naturally directed toward his that Yahweh’s Suffering Servant could former co-religionists, whom he sought be no other but Jesus Christ, who died to bring closer to the truth of Christ. He for our sins and rose from the dead for paid special attention to recent converts, our justification. “In this way,” he wrote, offering them both moral and material “after many years of study, meditation support. and living the Judaism of the Old A scholar to the end of his days, Zolli Testament, I eventually found myself in increased his apostolic activity through the Christianity of the New Testament. the publication of numerous books I had to admit in all honesty that I had and articles in and abroad. Heart become a Christian, and that is why I problems plagued his final years. His began to prepare myself systematically last lecture, on divine justice and mercy for the reception of Baptism.” in the Scriptures, took place in Vallicelli, Zolli saw his transition from Judaism in January of 1956. He died on March 2, to Catholicism not as a break with the 1956. On receiving the viaticum on his past but as a continuation along the road deathbed, he said: “I trust the Lord will of salvation. When his co-religionists forgive my sins. I commit myself entirely

began accusing him of betrayal, he to God’s mercy.” LOA photo archives photo LOA 27