Luigi Luzzatti and the Oriental Front: Jewish Agency and the Politics of Religious Toleration

The article analyses Luigi Luzzatti's attitude toward Romanian antisemitism against the background of European antisemitism and nation-building. It describes Luzzatti's theory of tolerance as one of the most original of the period, which comprises expertise in economy, constitutional law, and religious issues. Luzzatti's was one of the first Jewish prime ministers of Europe, and his attention for the Jewish question was unparalleled and original, highly influential. This article provides a first attempt to present to a English readership the relevance of his political achievements and his untiring interest for oppressed religous minorities