Auction 67
Judaica - Books, Manuscripts, Rabbinical Letters, Ceremonial Art
Sep 18, 2019
(Your local time)
Israel
8 Ramban St, Jerusalem.
The auction has ended
|
LOT 19:
Manuscript, Responsum on the Relation of Jews to Non-Jews - By Rabbi Shmuel son of R. Matzliach Arli - Mantua, Late ...
more...
|
|
|
Sold for: $750
Start price:
$
300
Auction house commission:
23%
VAT: On commission only
|
Manuscript, Responsum on the Relation of Jews to Non-Jews - By Rabbi Shmuel son of R. Matzliach Arli - Mantua, Late 16th or Early 17th Century
Manuscript, "To show the nations and princes that Jews are not permitted to curse or rob any man", by R. Shmuel son of R. Matzliach Arli. [Mantua, ca. late 16th or early 17th century].
Cursive Italian script. Signature at the end of the manuscript: "So says Shmuel son of R. Matzliach Arli". On p. [4a], lengthy marginal gloss, presumably also handwritten by R. Shmuel Arli (it is unclear whether the entire manuscript is in his handwriting, or was written by a scribe).
In this responsum, the author quotes sources from the Torah and the sages which demonstrate that Jews do not hate non-Jews, are obligated to respect them and are commanded to treat them decently. This was presumably written as a response to allegations leveled against Mantuan Jews, accusing them of relating to their Christian neighbors with disdain and animosity. He begins as follows: "For I heard the gossip of many, who find fault in our nation, and make false claims about our Torah, saying that it allows injustice and robbery against other nations, to deceive them, curse them and cause them harm, even to their person, and not only that, even to curse our kings and princes, G-d should protect us from evil and anything close to it…".
This item was in the possession of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn, who mentions it in his book Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova, II, pp. 383-384.
R. Shmuel Arli (d. 1617) was a Torah scholar of Mantua in the 16th and 17th centuries. Both he and his father served in several official positions in the community. In 1587, he was appointed rabbi in Mantua. Several of his piyyutim were published in Siddur MiBracha, Italian rite (see: Simonsohn, Toldot HaYehudim BeDukasut Mantova, II, p. 511).
[6] leaves (7 written pages). 22 cm. Good condition. Stains, light wear.
From the estate of Prof. Shlomo Simonsohn.
