Author: Elio Toaff

After graduated from Law School in Livorno, and in Law in Pisa. Elio Toaff was named rabbi of Ancona from 1941 to 1943. He took part in the Resistance against Fascism and after Liberation he was named Rabbi of Venice but in 1951 he was called to Rome where he remained the spiritual leader of his community for 50 years, until 2001. Apart from guiding the Roman community, he had many national appointments: he was President of the Italian Rabbinical Consulate, the Director of the Italian Rabbinical College and the Higher Institute of Jewish Studies. As for Europe, he has long been a member of the Executive of the European Rabbis Conference.