Resources for 2007
The Estates of a Jewish Merchant and of a Rabbi in Seventeenth Century Venice
As is well known, the Archivio di Stato di Venezia (ASV; Venetian State Archives) is among the largest in Europe, and contains much material dealing with the Jews of Venice. This includes inventories of the estates of Jews compiled for the purposes of implementing the will of the deceased, and very fortunately two inventories of the estates of arguably the two most prominent Jews of the first half of the sixteenth century, representing two completely different types of Jews, both of whom have been the subject of considerable scholarly attention, have been located and published in the original Italian. One of these is that of the great commercial entrepreneur Daniel Rodriga (d. 1603), who was the key figure in obtaining the first charter which enabled Levantine and Ponentine Jewish merchants to settle in Venice with unique commercial privileges, while the second individual is Rabbi Leon Modena (1571-1648), arguably the most prolific author of his times, concerning whom much information has been preserved. My intention is to examine these two inventories in the contexts of the lives and professional activities of Rodriga and Modena, the situation of the Jews of Venice, and the Venetian material culture of the times to see whether any tentative conclusions can be drawn that shed new light on the condition of the Jews of Venice. I realize that two serious questions immediately arise: first, how typical were Rodriga and Modena, and second, certain items - presumably of economic value - could have been removed from the estate before the inventory was compiled. Nevertheless, it is to be hoped that the proposed investigation will be of some value and most importantly, lead to further research along these lines. **This presentation is for the following text(s):** Inventory of the Property of Leon Modena Inventory of the Property of the Late Daniel Rodrigha
The Image of the Jewish Wedding in the Works of Eighteenth Century German Hebraists
No description available.
An Inventory of an Inquisitorial Prisoner's Possessions
**ABSTRACT:** The presentation will describe how an inventory of an inquisitorial prisoner's possessions, routinely drawn up at the time of a prisoner's arrest, throws light on the material circumstances and consumption patterns of the prisoner and his/her family, as well as on the material milieu he/she inhabited. The inventory is that of Francisco Maldonado de Silva, a physician in the Viceroyalty of Peru, drawn up at the time of his arrest for judaizing in 1627. **This presentation is for the following text(s): **Inventory of the possessions of the licentiate Francisco Maldonado de Silva
Jewish Display Silver After the Age of Exploration
No description available.
Material Possessions and Religious Boundaries in Early Modern Poland
No description available.
The Phoenix, the Exodus and the Temple
This presentation investigates the symbols of the Sephardic congregation in Amsterdam, mainly the Phoenix and the Pelican that symbolize the resurrection of Jesus in catholic Christianity, alongside the unique exegesis by several congregants of the Exodus narrative. The analysis of the symbols, images and the architecture of the congregation's synagogue, shows that they had played a major role in the construction of the "new" identity of the congregation. By utilizing them the congregation established the "resurrection" narrative of the Sephardic Jewry and its new beginning in Amsterdam. The rich cultural background of these symbols and images, both in the Iberian world and in the Netherlands, enabled the community's members to interweave their Iberian-Christian past with their Jewish present and to integrate into the Dutch society of the Early Modern period. **This presentation is for the following text(s):** Praises Which Zealous \[Men\] Dedicated to the Wonderful Memory of Abraham Nunez Bernal, Who was Burned Alive Sanctifying the Name of his Creator in Cordova on May 3rd 5415 \[=1655\] Sermons Which were Delivered by the Talented Gentlemen of the Kahal Kadosh \[=holy congregation\] Talmud Torah, in this city of Amsterdam, in the happy opening, and public celebration of the building that was dedicated to God, as a house of prayer, for which festivities commenced on Sabath Nahamu. . Year 5435 \[=1675\].
The Possessions of Two Italian Jews at the End of the 16th Century
**ABSTRACT:** The brothers Lazaro and Angelo Nantua were moneylenders in Gavi, a town under Genoese dominion, during the second half of the sixteenth century. In 1592, Angelo got into a violent argument with the chancellor of the town. This incident started a series of legal proceedings against the brothers that went on for years. The two documents I choose are (1) an inventory of all their posessions made in 1592 by order of the doge in Genoa (2)a letter written by the local podesta in which he complaints that they do not wear the yellow hat and gives a detailed description of their outfit. **This presentation is for the following text(s): **Inventory of the belongings of Lazaro Nantua Letter by Podesta of Gavi
Symbolic Clothes Marginality and Otherness of Jews and New Christians as Reflected by Their Dress in Two Christian texts
Clothes in the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Period denoted legal status and social standing. Jews (and other minority and marginal groups) were distinguished by clothing regulations, sometimes supplemented by the wearing of a special badge. However, beyond custom and law, there were subtle cues that signaled marginality such as the wearing of certain fabrics and colours etc. In Mediterranean Europe, that is in Italy, Sicily and the Iberian kingdoms, Jews wore more or less the same fashions as the surrounding society though there were restrictions and distinguishing marks imposed by either the ruler and the Church or the Jews themselves. A text from fifteenth century Sicily describes the clothes worn by Jews during a festive procession; but beyond the explicit information it provides, the text’s language and the subtext hint at the marginality and restrictions imposed on the Jews. Converting to Christianity meant, according to Church doctrine as well as missionary propaganda, total status change and no restrictions on dress, exercising various professions etc. However, a sixteenth century text - also from Sicily - raises intriguing question as to the perceptions of the New Christians by the Old Christian population, especially regarding dress. Both texts are compared with each other and other sources from the same period. This presentation is for the following text(s): A History of Sicily in Twenty (parts) (1560) On the Origins and History of Palermo (1471)
The Zaks Parokhet from Prague (1602): Sacred Object, Local Liturgy, and Familial Memory
No description available.