Memories of Jewish Life

Augusto Segre (1915–86) was born in the northern Italian town of Casale Monferrato and died a citizen of Israel. He was a professor at the Italian Rabbinical College and the Lateran Pontifical University and authored nine books.  Steve Siporin is a professor of folklore at Utah State University. He is the author of American Folk Masters: The National Heritage Fellows.

• List of IllustrationsList of Maps Foreword AcknowledgmentsIntroduction 1. Once Upon a Time2. The Rabbi's Family3. It's Not Always Easy to Become a Rabbi4. The Community Council5. First Experiences6. Casalese Anti-Zionism7. Jewish Festivals and Solemnities8. Community and Family Life9. Farewell Visit10. Rome, Friends, and Teachers11. Jewish Rome12. Students and Politicians13. From Police Stations to the Secretaryship of the Union14. The Racial Campaign Breaks Out15. Dante Lattes Leaves16. Working with Raffaele Cantoni17. Who Leaves and Who Stays18. I Return Home19. Asti and Moncalvo20. Commuter21. The Nazi Invasion22. Partisan Life23. April 2524. The Prisoner Emerling25. Toward a Normal Life26. Return to Rome27. The State of Israel Is Reborn28. New Activities of the Zionist Federation29. Sailing for Israel30. Israel at War31. A Happy Encounter32. The Slansky Case33. Life Goes OnNotesGlossaryReferencesIndex

"In this beautifully written book, newly translated into English, Augusto Segre recounts his life experiences with insight, philosophy, and gracefully told anecdotes. . . . The traditional religious and vibrant working-class Jewish community that Segre describes, alas, no longer exists but will live forever in the pages of this wonderful book."—Jewish Book World "Segre's fascinating narrative enables us to understand some things about the Italian Jewish community, especially its horrible experiences just before and during World War II. Our understanding of and appreciation for Italian Jews are greatly enhanced by this fine book."—Morton I. Teicher, National Jewish Post & Opinion "The oral, conversational style of the original Italian has been masterfully rendered by Siporin's translated prose, and readers will delight in the discovery that this important book, which sheds light on a little known community and a very dark chapter in Italy's past, proves moreover to be a most enjoyable reading experience as the memoirs of an individual become the collective history of an entire community."—Rachele Longo Lavorato, Shofar