Obj. ID: 56938
Memorials "House of Life" memorial plaque at the entrance to the Old synagogue in Pitigliano, Italy, 2019
To the main object: Old synagogue in Pitigliano, Italy
Memorial Name
No official name
Who/What is Commemorated?
Villages of Pitigliano, Sorano, Monciano, Farnese and Valentano
Description:
Three plaques are affixed to the wall to the left of the synagogue entrance. Two plaques with the same text, in English (above) and Italian (below) naming the surrounding villages as a “House of Life” hang one above the other. To the right is a laminated board plaque that provides biographical information in English and Italian about Raoul Wallenberg.
Inscriptions:
Plaque in English:
HOUSE OF LIFE
HOUSES OF LIFE A project by the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
THE INTERNATIONAL RAOUL WALLENBERG FOUNDATION IS PROUD
TO DECLARE THE VILLAGES OF PITIGLIANO, SORANO, MONCIANO, FARNESE
AND VALENTANO AS HOUSE OF LIFE, AS THEY PROVIDED SHELTER
TO INNOCENT PEOPLE PERSECUTED BY THE NAZIS.
THIS RECOGNITION IS A TRIBUTE TO THE RESCUERS WHO UPHELD
THE VALUES OF SOLIDARITY AND CIVIC COURAGE,
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGACY OF RAOUL WALLENBERG.
[logo of Raoul Wallenberg Foundation]
Baruch Tenembaum FOUNDER
Plaque in Italian:
II LA FONDAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE RAOUL WALLENBERG E' ORGOGLIOSA
DI DICHIARARE I PAESI DI PITIGLIANO, MANCIANO, FARNESE E
VALENTANO COME CASA DI VITA, POICHE' HANNO FORNITO RIFUGIO A
PERSONE INNOCENTI PERSEGUITATE DAI NAZISTI. QUESTO
RICONOSCIMENTO E' UN TRIBUTO AI SOCCORRITORI CHE HANNO
SOSTENUTO I VALORI DI SOLIDARIETA' E CORAGGIO CIVICO. SECONDO L'EREDITA' DI RAOUL WALLENBERG.
Additional plaque with biographical information about Raoul Wallenberg
Commissioned by
International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
Associazione La Piccola Gerusalemme Pitigliano
sub-set tree: 
| Vicolo Marghera, Traversa Via Zuccarelli 58017 Pitigliano (GR) (Tuscany
At a ceremony in May 2019, villages in Tuscany were honored for the heroism displayed by the local rescuers who reached-out to their Jewish neighbors during the Nazi occupation. Based on photos of the ceremony it appears the plaque in Italian and that with information about Wallenberg were added at a later date.
According to the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) that sponsored the ceremony and the plaques:
“One such story was exemplified by Mr. Fortunato Sonno, a resident of Pitigliano, at the Grosseto province, who was officially declared Righteous among the Nations. From March 1944 till the liberation on June 14, 1944, he helped save the life of a local Jewish family of five, the Servis, by hiding them in a cave on Conti Brazza, visiting them daily, bringing them food and supplies, without expecting any reward. One of the Servi daughters, Elena, attended the ceremony.”
At the ceremony the IRWF was represented by Ms. Elena Colitto Castelli and Ms. Silvia Costantini, who spoke in the event. Other speakers were Elena Servi (one of the rescuers and President of La Piccola Gerusalemme) and Dr. Gloria Arbib, who represented the Italian Jewish community.
“Towns in Tuscany, Italy, proclaimed Houses of Life by the Raoul Wallenberg Foundation,” International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation , https://www.raoulwallenberg.net/life-saving-shelters-houses-of-life-saviors/pitigliano/tuscany/ (accessed January 26, 2025)