“Working in a small community means taking care of everything from A to Z, from looking after the synagogue to cooking to changing a light bulb if necessary.” This is the philosophy of Marco Del Monte, who has served as head of religious affairs at the Jewish Community of Bologna for about three and a half years. In July, Del Monte took an important step in his rabbinic career. He earned the title of Maskil by passing an examination covering the Torah, Jewish history, Hebrew grammar, Jewish thought, and much more. Maskil, which means “scholar” in Hebrew, is a title of honor principally used in Italy. It indicates an intermediate degree before achieving the title of rabbi (Chakham).
“It was a tough exam, and a real source of satisfaction,” said Del Monte. His next goal is to earn the higher Chakham qualification, an ambition shared by the leadership of Bologna’s Jewish community. Del Monte said they welcomed him like family and gave him a decisive push, starting with its president, Daniele De Paz.
Del Monte, who was born in Rome, is 44 years old and has been studying at the Italian Rabbinical College for about 30 years. “But I had never taken an exam to turn that knowledge into a formal qualification. I now feel I have reached a first milestone — one that is not personal, but belongs to the whole community. I am grateful to my wife, Elinor, who has always supported me at home.”
He also thanks “the many teachers who have helped me along the way,” beginning with Rabbi Alfonso Arbib and the Milan rabbinical office, where he learned through his daily work. He thanks Rabbi Beniamino Goldstein as well, with whom he studied in Modena every Monday.
Del Monte remembers his youth teacher, Rabbi Yehuda Kalon, of blessed memory, who first set him on this path. He also recalls the pedagogist Clotilde Pontecorvo, with whom he studied in college. She taught him that “it takes a village to raise a child” — a philosophy with which he identifies, one that implies “moral and community connectedness.”
To illustrate the spirit behind his work, Del Monte recounts a story about the Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism. The BeShT, as he was known, “would pray for many hours, often surrounded by a large group of worshippers. One day, exhausted, the people around him decided to leave the synagogue and return later. When they came back, they discovered that the BeShT had finished his prayers earlier than expected. They asked him how this was possible. He replied that simply by being present, their souls had created the conditions necessary to build a spiritual ladder toward heaven.