Lelio Cantoni

Lelio Cantoni (1802 – 18 January 1857) was an Italian rabbi who served as the chief rabbi of Turin from 1833 until his death.

Early life and education Lelio Cantoni was born in Gazzuolo, Duchy of Mantua. In 1829, he enrolled at the newly established Istituto Rabbinico at Padua, graduating as a rabbi in 1832. After completing his studies, he was commissioned by the government to draft statutes concerning Jewish communities.

Career In 1845, Cantoni formed the Committee of the Jewish Communities of the Kingdom of Sardinia and Piedmont, which gained him the support of Massimo d'Azeglio and Roberto d'Azeglio.

In 1848 war broke out with Austria and Cantoni recruited among Turin's Jews and organized volunteers into three battalions of sharpshooters to fight for Piedmont-Sardinia.

He advocated for the emancipation of Jews in the Kingdom of Sardinia which helped to bring it about in the Constitution of 1848, a development that later extended to united Italy. before this could be realised.