JACOB ZAHALON of Rome Medieval Rabbi, Physician, Author and Moralist

摘要

The seventeenth century was one of suffering and decay for the Jewish Community of Rome. Harsh, restrictive measures were heaped up and as a consequence the economic condition steadily declined. Rigid rules governed the closing of the Ghetto gates (1603). Cruel and unjust taxes were imposed in such measure that the community found itself unable to pay them (1604, 1627, 1629, 1632, 1634, 1635, 1641, 1649, 1650, 1658). Spiritual suffering was added to economic distress through the frequent occurrence of forced conversion and the decree of the Church that the baptism of a child at the request of a nurse but without the knowledge of the parents was valid, a decree which was confirmed again and again. It was only in 1639 that the law forbade the forced baptism of children under seven. Jews were declared as unfit to act as witnesses in trials where the disputants were Christians (1611). They were forbidden to engage Christian servants (1617) and it was decreed that a Jew should not instruct a Christian or vice versa in any science or art (1620). The law concerning special dress for Jews and Jewesses was carried out with rigor and the penalties for disobedience were severe. The annual carnival was disgraced by races of "naked and limping Jews" who were subjected to every form of humiliation and abuse; it was not until 1667 that these were abrogated, for an added new tax upon the community. In addition to the suffering imposed upon the community by their masters there was also great distress from other causes. The Tiber frequently rose above its banks and flooded the Jewish quarter (1606, 1628, 1637, 1647, 1660, etc.). The damage to the Ghetto was severe and added greatly to its impoverishment. There were also periods of great famine and of the frightful plague. During the plague of 1656, to which we shall refer below, we learn that the Jewish Community of Rome numbered only 4,127 souls, but of these 2,624 were so poor that they required support from the community.