Bassi Angelo

Brandi, Ernesto Brandi, Margherita Bassi, Angelo Muzio, Teresa Scrivani, Giuseppe Leone Mesciulam was a Jewish antiquarian of Turkish origin who ran a business in rugs in the center of Genoa, while his wife, Eleonora Dapino, specialized in the restoration of carpets. On November 3, 1943, two months after the German occupation of Italy, Leone and Eleonora with their children, Emma Tamar, 14 years old, and the boys, Flavio and Plinio, 17 years old, arrived in Rondanina, a small mountain village near Genoa, to evade the persecutions against Jews. They arrived with no financial resources. At first, the Mesciulams turned to owners of a small restaurant in the village, Ernesto Brandi and his wife Margherita (née Scrivani). They stayed under their roof for a few months using false names and not revealing at first their true identity. When they did tell the Brandis that they were Jews on the run, the Mesciulams were reassured that they could continue to stay. Since the area was filled with people leaving Genoa because of the bombardments, the Mesciulams were not particularly noticed. Nevertheless, one day, Margherita’s brother-in-law, Giovanni Muzio, an employee at the village council, found out that the authorities were looking for a Jewish family hiding in the village. At that point, Margherita turned for help to the village priest, Monsignor Angelo Bassi, born in Monleale in 1914. He responded positively, suggesting to divide up the Jewish family, sending each member to different hideout. Monsignor Bassi took Leone to the house of Margherita’s mother, where her brother, Giuseppe, her sister, Teresa, and husband, Giovanni Muzio, also lived. For about a year, Leone hid in a storeroom made of chestnut wood. During times of danger, Giuseppe ran with Leone to the woods. Monsignor Bassi hid the eldest boy Plinio, for more than a year in a secluded room at his church. Whenever there were rumors of an upcoming German search, he accompanied him into the woods until thedanger had passed. Monsignor Bassi took the rest of the family, Eleonora, Emma and Flavio to the nearby village of Fascia, where they presented themselves under false names as refugees. For a whole year, they remained there without being able to see Leone and Plinio. Emma recalls from that period, being instructed how to behave during religious ceremonies. Monsignor Bassi also helped Enzo and Vittorio Finzi from Alessandria. After the war, Monsignor Bassi wrote about his wartime experiences. On August 18, 2004, Yad Vashem recognized Ernesto and Margherita Brandi, Monsignor Angelo Bassi, Giuseppe Scrivano and Teresa Muzio, as Righteous Among the Nations.