Israel Zolli

Eugenio Maria Zolli (27 September 1881 ‒ 2 March 1956), born Israel Anton Zoller, was an Austrian by birth, and an Italian doctorate professor of philosophy and author.

Until his conversion from Judaism to Catholicism in February 1945, Zolli was the chief rabbi in Rome's Jewish community from 1940 to 1945.

Zolli's presiding style in delivering the liturgy was more casual than they preferred, and he was more interested in academic inquiry than pastoral work or community leadership.

According to American researcher, Daniel T. Murphy, Zolli "recommended the total suppression of public Jewish functions, the closing of administrative offices, the elimination of donor lists, the dispersion of all members of the Jewish community, the distribution of financial aid, and the reduction of the community treasury.

"[1] In the next few years, as the Nazis swept over Europe during World War II, all three of Zolli's brothers were killed in The Holocaust.

During the Nazi persecution, long years afterward, I lived near the center of Rome in a small room.

"[12] After Zolli and his wife converted to Catholicism, he was employed at the Sapienza University of Rome and Pontifical Biblical Institute.

In 1956, he became seriously ill and entered the hospital, where he reportedly revealed to a nun that he would die on the first Friday of the month at 3:00 in the afternoon.

On 2 March 1956, Zolli received Holy Communion in the morning, eventually drifted into coma, and died, as he predicted, at 3:00 P.M. on the first Friday of the month.

[13] After the controversy surrounding his conversion settled, Zolli's life and writings did not achieve widespread attention.