Kidnapped (Rapito)

This story begins in March 1852, in Bologna

where the Mortara family lived.

Edgardo, the sixth child, was 6 months old.

Bologna belonged to the Papal States and Pius IX was the Pope-King.

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.

From where will my help come?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

God will not allow your foot to slip;

your guardian does not sleep.

Truly, the guardian of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps.

The Lord is your guardian;

the Lord is your shade at your right-hand.

KIDNAPPED

6 years later

...six, seven, eight,

nine, ten.

Stay still.

Home for Edgardo, Giulio and Ercole.

Home, everyone's safe!

Children, to bed!

Go on.

Hear, O Israel:

the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your might.

Off to bed now.

Good night.

Is this the home of Signor Mortara?

Yes... yes.

-Who is it? - There are some gentlemen.

They must come back later, my husband isn't here.

Let me go up.

Good evening, I'm Maresciallo Lucidi.

Good evening.

- Are you home alone? - Yes, my husband isn't here.

We need to clarify some things regarding your family.

Where are you going?

To my home.

My name is Marianna Padovani Mortara.

Salomone Mortara is my husband, but everyone calls him Momolo.

- What's going on? - Listen to what this gentleman wants.

Something wrong, maresciallo?

The order from my superiors

is to collect the names of your entire family, to identify them.

Why?

Riccardo, first born.

Imelda, in the cradle

and those are the twins, Ernesta and Erminia.

Those remaining are: Augusto,

Arnoldo, Edgardo,

Ercole and Giulio.

- They're in bed. - They're sleeping.

I'm sorry, but you must wake them.

Go call Angelo, Sanguinetti and Uncle Bonajuto.

All the friends you can find.

- What's going on, Papa? - Did Grandma die?

- Oh, no. - An inspection.

- If someone asks you questions... - Who?

- Don't speak, but be polite. - Leave the speaking to us.

Who is this gentleman?

Are you Augusto?

Answer.

No, I'm Arnoldo.

I'm Augusto.

- Giulio? - I'm Giulio.

I'm Ercole.

Ercole. And he is Edgardo?

Yes.

- Is that right? - That's me.

Signor Mortara, I am sorry to tell you

that you are the victim of a betrayal,

your son, Edgardo, has been baptized

and I have an order to seize him.

- What do you mean? - I have to take him away.

Who ordered this?

The Tribunal of the Holy Office.

They'll have to kill me first.

- There must be some mistake. - No.

- And who supposedly baptized him? - I do not know.

- Where are you taking him? - I'm not authorized to tell you.

Stop, you cannot go in!

- Let us in! - Get out of here!

I'm scared!

They want to take him away from us!

Toss him to us!

They want to take him away!

I'll catch him!

Don't!

I'm sorry.

Maresciallo, do you see this misery?

You have a family too, I ask you for a postponement.

The order comes from Monsignor Feletti,

the Father Inquisitor of the San Domenico Convent.

I didn't tell you anything.

"Please do not lose sight

of the boy, even for a second.

Make sure he is neither snatched

nor sacrificed.

We know well the superstitions the Jews are imbibed with.

Utmost vigilance.

And then, after twenty-four hours have passed,

you may take him,

that is, tomorrow evening

without deferment.

Father Feletti."

Hand this over to Maresciallo Lucidi.

The Church, if necessary, knows how to be a merciful mother.

No, it was all done in full compliance, according to canon law.

Resign yourselves.

And do not return, because I am no longer willing to receive you.

Let us pray also for the perfidious Jews:

that Almighty God

may remove the veil from their hearts,

so that they too may acknowledge Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we levy a tax upon ourselves, upon our hevrot,

we can collect some gelt to make them back down.

An appeal, a deferment.

This is just futzing around.

The Inquisition is involved. They're worse schmutzes than the Pharaoh.

Now enough with the kvetching.

Rather, who made him a goy?

Edgardo was born in 1851.

The 27th of August, 1851.

Is the maidel working for you now a Catholic?

Yes, but she just recently arrived.

- Before there was Anna. - Who?

Anna Morisi

we sent her away for stealing,

she was a ganef.

Momolo.

It's an order from the maresciallo.

Let's not despair, for now he's still here.

Hear, O Israel:

the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.

You shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your might.

These words which I command you today

shall be upon your heart.

Must you really? Can you stay outside?

Pretend we're not here.

June 24th, 1858

May God Almighty bless you.

In the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Go forth.

The Mass is ended.

I am Edgardo Mortara's father.

I gave you a twenty-four-hour deferment, make do with that.

I am sure something more can be done.

No, a baptism cannot be annulled.

Your son is Christian for all eternity.

No!

When?

- Tonight. - My question was something else.

When did this baptism occur?

Who baptized him behind our backs?

I cannot tell you, it's confidential,

but I assure you it happened.

I believe it is all a misunderstanding.

Give us some time and we'll get to the bottom of it.

That's impossible.

Are you taking him away?

Yes.

Actually...

it would be advisable

that you convince your wife not to oppose,

to avoid frightening your other children as well.

You'll be able to see him as often as you like.

Where will you take him?

I believe he'll remain here in town.

Actually, it would be a good idea to bring a change of clothes.

But for how long?

- Someone has to listen to me... - Enough now!

There's no point debating it.

-So? - The children?

They're sleeping. So?

You have to do something!

They can't take him away from me!

They can't!

You have to go with Angelo to his house.

Imelda needs to be breastfed.

I'll take care of Edgardo.

And besides, this isn't the last word, don't worry.

I'll go speak with the cardinal.

Lucia, let's go.

They're taking him away from me.

They're taking him away from me.

They want to take him away.

What's happening?

They want to take him away from me.

Let me get out.

Let me go!

They're taking him away! I want to get out!

Put this in your pocket.

Don't lose it.

And remember to recite the Shema every night.

Will they chop off my head, Papa?

No.

They won't hurt you.