Billour Amato & Letizia

Billour, Amato Billour, Letizia Vinay, Pastor Tullio In November 1943, the Jews in Florence were being hunted down by the Germans and their Italian Fascist collaborators to be deported to death camps. Reuven Campagnano’s mother, Hulda Cassuto, was left alone and in charge of six children – two of her own, and four of her brother’s (among them a newborn baby), Rabbi Dr. Nathan Cassuto. Hulda’s husband, Saul, as well as Nathan Cassuto and his wife Anna Di Gioacchino were deported to Auschwitz. Hulda considered various ways by which she might save her family. One day she met Tullio Vinay, an Evangelical pastor. He was recommended to her as someone who had helped many Jews find safe hiding places as well as assisted some of them to escape from Italy. As a devout Christian, he felt it was his duty to act according to his beliefs and values. Vinay suggested that she locate a Christian family who would take care of one of the children, preferable a small one,“ so that they would not have to teach him to lie.” Reuven, born in September 1942, was chosen to be sheltered by the family found for this purpose. Amato Billour, a high-school English teacher, and his wife, Letizia, a pianist, were in their 40s, and had no children of their own. Reuven Campagnano stayed with the Billours for almost a year, from December 1943 until August 1944. They were very kind and sensitive to all his needs. Soon he began calling them “father” and “mother.” For weeks Hulda did not see her son. Then she would meet him in public spaces, and later the Billours would even come to visit her, bringing Reuven along with them. He was then called “Emilio,” and his nickname was Mimmo. From October 1943, in all the public places in occupied Italy there were notices warning the population not to hide or help Jews in any way. Discovery by the Germans would have meant the death sentence for the Billours. Although they were aware of this, they were still ready to risk their lives to save Reuven. Huldapaid the Billour couple only a symbolic sum. The Billours’ were motivated to help save a Jewish child by their humanitarian ideals, but while they had Reuven in their home, they became very attached to him and loved him very much. When Florence was liberated in August 1944, Reuven was returned to his mother, but he has never forgotten the Billours and their love for him. Pastor Vinay also helped Hulda Cassuto and her family when she had to find refuge for herself, mother-in-law Anna Sacerdote, and two sisters-in-law. He arranged for their free accommodation in the empty seniors’ home in his community, whose inhabitants found refuge in the country due to the war. Hulda Campagnano published a book entitled La Dor Asher Lo Yada (in Hebrew), describing the experiences of a young mother during a fateful year in Italy. On February 24, 1981, Yad Vashem recognized Amato and Letizia Billour and Pastor Tullio Vinay as Righteous Among the Nations.