Netanel Trabotto

Netanel ben Benjamin Trabotto (Trabotti) lived most of his life in Modena, Italy, where he was appointed head of the Jewish community in 1632 and was an important rabbinic figure and served as a dayan (rabbinic judge). He worked as the official censor of Hebrew books for the Inquisition in Modena and was occasionally involved in inquisitorial trials. Some of his writings have survived in collections of responsa, including one concerning music in the synagogue and another regarding the mikveh in Reggio. He corresponded with Samuel Isaac Norzi regarding the performative repetition of words in prayer by a choir, which had recently become the source a major dispute in Senigallia; Trabotto opposed this musical embellishment. A number of kinot (laments) were composed about him following his death.