Abraham Vita de Cologna

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Grand rabbin
Abraham Vita de Cologna
TitleChief Rabbi of France
Personal
Born(1755-09-25)25 September 1755
Died(1832-03-24)24 March 1832
ReligionJudaism
Nationality Italy
Jewish leader
PredecessorDavid Sintzheim
SuccessorEmmanuel Deutz
OrganisationCentral Consistory of France
Began1812
Ended1826

Abraham (Vita) de Cologna (25 September 1755 – 24 March 1832) was an Italian-born orator, politician, and religious leader. He is considered to have been one of the first Chief Rabbis of France, following David Sintzheim and preceding Emmanuel Deutz.

Biography[edit]

As the rabbi of Mantua, Abraham Vita de Cologna was elected as a deputy to the parliament of the Kingdom of Italy,[1] which was ruled in personal union with France under Napoleon I, and in 1806 he served as a member of the Assembly of Jewish Notables in Paris.[1][2] He was later named vice-president of the Grand Sanhedrin when it was established in 1807. In 1808 he became a member of the Central Consistory of France, and subsequently served as its president from 1812 to 1826.[2] Having presided over the French Central Consistory, he is considered to have been the second Chief Rabbi of France, David Sintzheim having been the first. He later served as a member of the Consistory of Turin as well.[1]

His legacy includes a collection of sermons and essays authored by him.[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Beer, Moses. Abraham (Vita) de Cologna. The Jewish Encyclopedia (1906).
  2. ^ a b Morat, Yves & Gutmann, Micheline. Le Grand Rabbin Abraham Vita de Cologna (1754-1832). Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. ^ Kahn, Archives israélites, 1840, p. 32.