Simioni Giovanni

Dalla Torre, Don Angelo De Zotti, Don Giuseppe Simioni, Don Giovanni Don Giovanni Simioni, 28, originally from Ormelle, in Treviso province, was the chaplain of the Santo Spirito convent in Varlungo, in Florence and Don Leto Casini* was the parish priest. They were members of a Jewish-Christian aid committee in Florence, headed by Rabbi Dr. Nathan Cassuto (later deported). The Delasem committee in Genoa directed Jewish refugees to the aid committee in Florence. In November 1943, 13 helpless women and children found refuge in the cellar of the convent. Don Simioni was their contact to the outside world. In November 1943, when Don Casini was arrested with other members of the committee, the cardinal of Florence decided that Don Simioni should leave the area and return temporarily to his place of birth. He decided to take the women who had been under his protection with him to the north. He divided them into two groups and escorted them to Treviso, where he was able to find them safe houses. By taking them by train to Treviso, he exposed himself to real danger, as the Jews did not know Italian and could easily be identified. There were spies and informers everywhere. The danger, however, was not over in Treviso. When they reached their new hiding place, Don Giovanni Simioni shared their secret with two local priests: Don Giuseppe De Zotti and Don Angelo Dalla Torre. They took over the responsibility for the welfare of the group, enabling Simioni to return to his post in Florence. The clergymen divided the group into smaller groups. The women and children were either hidden in private homes or in convents in the area. Simioni kept in touch and sent them money. Besides being provided with accommodations, food, pocket money and false identity cards, they were also given moral support. Sabine Adler (later Selzer), originally from Vienna, had left Austria in 1938, escaping to France. In 1943, she crossed the border through the Alps to Italy. From the convent inFlorence, she was taken to Treviso. She was hidden with several women in Cocretta del Montello, in an old-age home, for an entire year. Then, one night, Don Dalla Torre came and transferred her to a Franciscan convent, where she remained until the liberation. With her was Stella Schwarzwald. Simioni took Mrs.Tarnover, who was pregnant at that time, with her son to a safe place that was provided by the mother of Don Simioni. Lina Glatt and her 17-year-old daughter, Ruth (Mayer) were sheltered by the parents of Don De Zotti in Carpenedo, in Mestre-Veneto, from December 1943 until the liberation. Mrs. Gruenwald and her daughter, Diana, were sheltered at the home of villagers. Mina Goldman and her two boys, Louis and Harry, were also part of the group that was protected by the clergymen, between 1943 and 1945. When she was taken by Simioni to hide in Treviso at a Catholic seminary, she met her second guardian angel – Don Dalla Torre, who took care of her for one and a half years. When members of the group were hospitalized, he paid the medical expenses out of his own pocket. When he was asked what his motivation was for such a sacrifice, he answered: “Why are we priests if not to help those who need us.” Louis Goldman described the escape to Treviso in his book, Amici per la vita (1993). On December 14, 1965, Yad Vashem recognized Don Giovanni Simioni, Don Giuseppe De Zotti, and Don Angelo Dalla Torre as Righteous Among the Nations.