Volli, Gemma
VOLLI, GEMMA
VOLLI, GEMMA (1900–1971), Italian historian and teacher. Born in Trieste, Gemma Volli devoted herself to Jewish studies, and especially to the history of Italian Jewry in its relations with the Church.
Of particular interest are her papers on the *Mortara case in the Rassegna Mensile d'Israel (26, 1960 and 28, 1962) and in the Bollettino del Museo de Risorgimento (5 (1960), 1087ff.). Her articles and lectures on the cult of Simon of Trent (in Il Ponte, 19 (1963), 1396ff.; and rmi, 31 (1965), 570ff.) led to its abolition by the Church (Oct. 26, 1965); as a consequence, the Jewish ḥerem on the city of Trent lost its validity. Volli did the same service in exposing the cult of Lorenzino da Marostica (rmi, 34 (1968), 513ff., 564ff.). Her other works include Breve storia degli Ebrei d'Italia (1961); "La vera storia del protocolli dei Savi anziani di Sion" (II Ponte, 13 (1957), 1649ff.); and Gli Ebrei a Lugo (1970).
Her name was commemorated in the preface to the theatrical story about Simonino from Trento, "Shalom Alechem" by A. Zanotti – R. Fracalossi (Rovereto, 2005) for her contribution to the abolition of the cult of Simonino. Her Gli Ebrei a Lugo has been republished.
bibliography:
Israel (May 13, 1971); jc (May 21, 1971); A. Perugia, rmi, 37 (1971), 335–42.
[Alfredo Mordechai Rabello]