Responsum: On Printed Megilot (Scrolls of) Esther

Shalom Italia

Moses Provenzali

1560

Question: . . . When Rabbi Joseph Ottolenghi was visiting this land, he told me that he printed sixteen megillot on parchment prepared for this purpose [i.e., to be used for the scrolls—Ed.]. When I expressed my surprise, he told me that he does not allow anyone to fulfill his obligation by reading from them, although he would find it very…

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Creator Bio

Shalom Italia

1619–1655

Engraver, etcher, and draftsman Shalom Italia was, as his name indicates, from Italy, where his family worked in the Mantua printing industry. However, probably attracted by the opportunities in the growing metropolis, he made his way to Amsterdam by 1641. Among Shalom Italia’s works are illustrated ketubot (marriage contracts), book illustrations, and portraits of the community’s leading figures, such as Menasseh Ben Israel, who was the founder of Amsterdam’s first Hebrew printing press and an advocate for the readmission of Jews to England.

Moses Provenzali

1503–1575

Moses Provenzali was one of the greatest Italian talmudic scholars of his time and was at the heart of several controversies. He was severely criticized for his position on the divorce of Samuel Venturozzo (1564)—an issue that divided Italian rabbis—for ruling that the divorce was invalid because it was made under duress. Indeed, the rabbis of Venice forbade him to hold office for three years (although it seems the ruling was not implemented), and many called for his excommunication. However, Provenzali received the support of rabbis of Safed, including Joseph Karo, and continued to serve as chief rabbi of Mantua until his death. Provenzali wrote an approbation for the first edition of the Zohar (Mantua, 1558). He wrote a guide to Hebrew grammar in verse and a geometric treatise, in addition to many responsa, and commentaries on talmudic tractates and on Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed. Many of his writings remain in manuscript.

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Responsum: On Printed Megilot (Scrolls of) Esther

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Responsum: On Printed Megilot (Scrolls of) Esther

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