Jeonathan Prato

Jeonathan Prato (; 16 February 1913 – 5 January 2006) was a lawyer, a yishuv envoy, and an Israeli diplomat.

Early life Jeonathan Prato was born on 16 February 1913 in Florence, Italy, where his father, David Prato, was the Chief Cantor. [Prof. Rabbi David Prato became Chief Rabbi of Rome (1936–1938 and again 1945–1951) and lived in Tel Aviv in between. ]

Career In Mandatory Palestine, Dr. Prato worked initially as a teacher of Italian and head of the Italian section of the British governmental Jerusalem Calling radio station. In 1941, Jeonathan Prato was named a lawyer.

Israeli foreign service On 1 May 1949, Jeonathan Prato joined the foreign service of the young State of Israel. Initially he worked at the Israeli embassy in Italy, then in Argentina after an interlude in Israel. In 1959, Israel's foreign minister Golda Meir appointed Prato diplomatic envoy in Athens. Next, Jeonathan Prato served as the Minister to Cuba (1960-1963).

As an advisor for church relations, Prato welcomed Pope Paul VI in 1964 to Israel at the Ta'anakh Crossing. From 1969 to 1972, Prato served as Ambassador in Costa Rica and Nicaragua. During the last year, this position also included Honduras. Prato managed the Church Relations Division from 1973 until his retirement from the foreign service on 28 February 1978. In his retirement, he worked another 5 years as an archivist.

Personal and legacy In 1951, Dr. Jeonathan Prato donated historical chairs to the Bezalel National Museum (that later merged into the Israel Museum), in memory of his father.

The Prato Haggadah Also in 1951, Prato received into his possession a famous Haggadah that was created around the year 1300. This book had initially been promised to the father of Prato. It is still known as the Prato Haggadah.

Family and death Prato was married Prato was buried on Har HaMenuchot.