On the eve of Mussolini's discriminatory laws, this reply to Paolo Orano's attack on Italian Jews came from the pen of a wealthy Piedmontese Jew who was also an ardent Fascist. He disclaimed Zionism and rejected any attempt to see Italian Jews as other than fully integrated into Italian culture and desirous of sharing the common destiny of the nation. Ironically, this champion of Fascism and his family were among the first victims of Nazi-Fascist persecution after Italy left the war in September 1943 and the Germans swiftly occupied the country. Less than a month later, Ovazza and his entire family were seized and brutally massacred on 9 October at Gressoney, near the Swiss border, while they attempted to flee to safety.

On loan from a private collection.