The Tenacious General: How an Italian Officer Ended a Bandit Reign

Southern Italy, 1864. The residents of Basilicata were at their wits' end due to a band of outlaws dominating the main roads in the region. Led by the infamous Melcarna, these bandits effectively besieged cities: every carriage on the main road was stopped by bandit minions, its contents plundered, and passengers injured or killed. Despite numerous military expeditions, the bandits, masters of their terrain, ambushed the soldiers and defeated them effortlessly.<\/p>

During a military council meeting, participants expressed doubts about the army's ability to annihilate the outlaws. Sending a thousand soldiers would be futile, they said, as the bandits would simply hide in caves, their whereabouts a mystery. Then, a young officer, a war veteran of four years from the Austro-Italian conflict, declared, 'Give me the task. With Hashem's help, I shall destroy them.' This officer, Joseph Ottolenghi, successfully located, surrounded, and eliminated the bandits to the very last. The locals breathed a sigh of relief.<\/p>

Nearly five decades later, the Chief Rabbi of Rome hosted a grand reception for the King of Italy upon the birth of a new heir. The King, moved by the gesture, asked the Rabbi for blessings for himself and the newborn heir. He then conversed with the Rabbi, suddenly remarking, 'I see there are many people here, you could certainly form several minyans for Maariv tonight.' The Rabbi, surprised by the King's knowledge of Jewish customs, inquired how he knew this.<\/p>

The King replied, 'It was in 1888, and I was a young officer stationed in Turin. Our eyes were constantly turned towards the head of the First Corps stationed there, the commander of the King's Brigade, who taught us combat and training methods. One morning, the General returned after half an hour, angry, saying, 'I went to pray, and there was no minyan. The people here are lazy.' When I asked why he couldn’t purchase this 'minyan,' he explained: a minyan is not something one buys; it is ten Jews who wish to pray together. In a proper Jewish city, there are many minyans for every prayer.'<\/p>

That general was Joseph Ottolenghi, a fearless and brilliant soldier who climbed through the ranks of the Italian army. In 1895, he became a General and Divisional Commander, and by 1902, he led the 4th Army, was appointed a Senator, and became the Minister of War. Throughout his career, Ottolenghi never forgot his Jewish roots, made an effort never to miss praying with a minyan, and adhered to all the requirements of Jewish law. He wrote, 'I am proud to have proved that one can reach the pinnacle of success in our army and even the position of Minister of War without concealing or denying the faith of our ancestors.'<\/p>

In 1904, Ottolenghi passed away with a good name, after many years of sanctifying Hashem's name. May his memory be blessed.<\/p>