At a constitutional session of the 18 councillors of the Union of Jewish Communities in Italy, Dr. Dante Almansi, Cavalier of the Grand Cross of the Italian Crown and former prefect of several Italian provinces, was formally inducted as the head of a united Italian Jewry.
The 62-year-old Jewish leader will serve as president of the Union, which has Jurisdiction over all Jewish communities in Italy, Albania, Libya, Rhodes and Ethiopia, until the next quadrennial Jewish congress in 1942. He succeeds former Naval Commander Federigo Jarach, of Milan, who resigned.
Since the Union functions under a Royal decree all officers and members of its council are subject to Government approval. Dr. Almansi’s choice was commended by the authorities and received the unanimous approbation of all Jewish communities in the Empire, which wired their congratulations.
Jarach remains an important member of the council and is looked upon as a powerful factor in maintaining the communities’ unity. He and his son, who is an inventor, are leaving for Palestine to spend two months visiting with Jarach’s daughter in Tel Aviv.
Prof. Renzo Luisada, painter and director of the Jewish Relief Committee for Refugees in Italy, has also left for Palestine, with his family. He conducted the relief work for refugees from Germany until the Italian authorities ordered the committee disbanded.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.