Israel Zolli

Israel Zolli
Dr. Israel Zolli
Born	Israel Anton Zoller September 27, 1881 Brody, Austria-Hungary
Died	March 2, 1956 Rome, Italy
Other names	Eugenio Maria Zolli
Occupation	Chief rabbi in Rome, Italy (1940–1945); Catholic university professor; author

Israel Zolli (September 27, 1881 ‒ March 2, 1956), born Israel Anton Zoller, so was an Austro-Hungarian by birth, and an Italian doctorate professor of philosophy and author. Until converting from Judaism to Catholicism in February 1945, Zolli was the chief rabbi in Rome, Italy's Jewish community from 1940 to 1945. After the war, he taught philosophy at a number of institutions throughout Rome including the Sapienza University of Rome and Pontifical Biblical Institute.

Zolli is noted for his defense of the Catholic Church's pope during World War II, Pius XII, who gave support and shelter to Zolli and other Jews during Nazi Germany's occupation of Italy from 1943 to 1944. It was later revealed that Zolli hid in a number of places in both Rome and Vatican City State.

Zoller was born in the city of Brody in then-Austria-Hungary, which from 1918-1945 was in eastern Poland, and currently is in western Ukraine. His father was a formerly wealthy factory owner, and his mother came from a family dynasty of rabbis. He earned a doctorate degree in philosophy from the University of Florence in Italy. At the same time, he prepared for the at a nearby yeshiva.

In 1918, he was appointed rabbi of the Italian city of Trieste whose territory had just been transferred from Austria-Hungary to Italy. He changed his surname to "Zolli" to make it sound more Italian. In 1939, Zolli was named as chief rabbi of Rome, Italy.

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