Chief Rabbi of Rome, his conversion to Catholicism

 

 

“Christianity is the integration of the Synagogue. The Synagogue was a promise, and Christianity is the fulfillment of that promise. The Synagogue pointed to Christianity: Christianity presupposes the Synagogue. So you see, one cannot exist without the other. What I converted to was the living Christianity”.

 Israel (Eugenio) Zolli

  

Taken from (1992): The Chief Rabbi's Conversion | Catholic Answers Magazine

 

On February 17, 1945, Israel Zolli, the Chief Rabbi of Rome, and his wife were baptized in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels by Msgr. Luigi Tralia. Zolli was the Chief Rabbi of Trieste for 35 years before coming to Rome. His deep learning in the Scriptures and Semitic literature may be seen in the many books he published. Catholic scholars publicly recognized this learning years before his conversion, when they invited him to assist in the work of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, and in the compiling of the Italian Catholic Encyclopedia.

 

The former Rabbi … was born in Poland. His mother was a German Jewess; and, on her side of the family there were actually 130 years of rabbinical tradition.

 

It is no surprise to find newspaper comment on Zolli’s action insolent, at least by implication. For instance, it was neither necessary, nor good sportsmanship, for certain newspapers to headline the story: “Voices, Rays Convert Rabbi to Catholicism.”

 

Moreover, it was disrespectful and offensive to millions to call the conversion a “religious switch,” since it was the outcome of at least 12 years of serious thinking and study by a serious-minded ecclesiastic of the Synagogue.

 

Only in the Associated Press dispatch by George Bria do we find any reference to the “voices and rays” supposed to have affected the Rabbi. Nevertheless, even if Zolli did use such expressions, they did not mean what the casual reader of the news was led to think, namely, that the convert was a dreamer or crackpot; and that this conversion was to be passed off with a pitying shake of the head. If Zolli did use the phrase, he was referring to interior inspirations he had received from the Light of the World. As Chief Rabbi of Rome, this sincere man had offered himself as hostage to the Nazi forces then occupying the city, if they would release several hundreds of his fellow Jews. Was that the conduct of a dreamer? Wasn’t it rather the action of a practical-minded, self-sacrificing pastor?

 

Jews, and especially the rabbis of the Orthodox group, do not become Christians light-mindedly, nor without powerful help from God. Experience has proved that a prospective convert from Judaism may nearly always look forward to severe boycotts from his family and friends and all former Jewish associates. If Orthodox, he may expect even father and mother to turn bitterly against him. They will put him out of their home and blot out his name from their will. All his Jewish business connections will be snapped, even if they mean his bread and butter. If the convert is a member of some milder branch of Judaism, such as the Conservative or Liberal, his penalty for conversion will be bad enough. Israel Zolli and his wife had to face most of those evils.

In reply to a suggestion that he had become a Catholic for gain, the courageous Rabbi said, “No selfish motive led me to do this. When my wife and I embraced the Church we lost everything we had in the world. We shall now have to look for work, and God will help us to find some.”

 

Therefore, when a Jew is willing to take such a cross as this as the price of his conversion, he makes his momentous break with the past only from rock-like conviction that he is doing what God wishes him to do, and only by the power of God.

 

This is clear in Zolli’s case, from his defense of his decision.

 

When the good Rabbi was asked why he had given up the Synagogue for the Church, he gave an answer that showed he had a keen understanding of his present position: “But I have not given it up. Christianity is the integration of the Synagogue. The Synagogue was a promise, and Christianity is the fulfillment of that promise. The Synagogue pointed to Christianity: Christianity presupposes the Synagogue. So you see, one cannot exist without the other. What I converted to was the living Christianity.”

 

“Then you believe that the Messiah has come?” the interviewer asked.

 

“Yes, positively,” replied Zolli. “I have believed it many years. And now I am so firmly convinced of the truth of it that I can face the whole world and defend my faith with the certainty and solidity of the mountains.”

 

“But why didn’t you join one of the Protestant denominations, which are also Christian?”

“Because protesting is not attesting. I do not intend to embarrass anyone by asking: ‘Why wait 1,500 years to protest?’

 

The Catholic Church was recognized by the whole Christian world as the true Church of God for 15 consecutive centuries. No man can halt at the end of those 1,500 years and say that the Catholic Church is not the Church of Christ without embarrassing himself seriously. I can accept only that Church which was preached to all creatures by my own forefathers, the Twelve who, like me, issued from the Synagogue.

“I am convinced that after this war, the only means of withstanding the forces of destruction and of undertaking the reconstruction of Europe will be the acceptance of Catholicism, that is to say, the idea of God and of human brotherhood through Christ, and not a brotherhood based on race and supermen, for ‘there is neither Jew nor Greek; neither bond nor free; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’