DELLA TORRE, LELIO. - Learned rabbi, b. at Cuneo on 11 Jan. 1805, d. at Padova on 9 July 1871. He taught from 1823 to 1829 at the Colonna-Finzi college in Torino, and thereafter, until his death, at the rabbinical school of Padova.
He published a long series of brief studies on various subjects, from biblical exegesis to contemporary Jewish history. In particular, he dealt with Talmudic questions, the ordinary subject matter of his teaching at Padova. He also composed small works of a religious-ascetic character and several Hebrew poems. These numerous writings were collected by his sons (Scritti sparsi, 2 vols., Padova 1908). As a translator, D. T. published Italian versions of the Psalms (Vienna 1845), of the ritual prayers of the Ashkenazi rite (ibid. 1846; Livorno 1905), of Talmudic treatises, and of certain biblical passages. He had also begun a commentary on the Psalms; but only its first fascicle appeared (Padova 1854).