A long letter from the Rabbis and heads of the community in Rome to the community of Pesaro. Rome, 1697.
"Like a woman in childbirth so is this city from trial and tribulations… from the burden of king and officers, taxes and levies and each day's curses are more than the day before… our debtors have not enough to pay even the interest of the debt and the Jews in Rome have become impoverished because only some ten households are left in our community… and about 6000 poor, barefoot and bare souls are like a drop in the sea…".
An important and interesting letter about one of the wealthy Jews of the community of Rome who settled in Pesaro. The community of Rome which was in financial distress and was very dependent on heads of households, of which only ten were left, turned to the community of Pesaro requesting assistance to prevent confiscation of their property and their expulsion.
Signed: "Mordechai ben Shabtai of Laritzia" and "Yitzchak ben Mordechai of Castalia".
The letter throws light on the internal problems of Italian communities of that era and primarily reflects the difficult situation of the community in Rome at that time.
2.5 written pages. 27 cm. High-quality paper, good-fair condition. Tears and stains to margins and folds with minor damage to text. Paper paste.