Abraham Menaḥem Kohen Porto

Abraham Menaḥem Kohen Porto Rappoport (meaning “Rapa of Porto”; he was descended from the Rapa family) was one of the most important rabbis of Verona. Porto studied Hebrew, medicine, and science in Venice, where he was acquainted with Elijah Levita. He also worked as a corrector of Hebrew books printed in Venice, where he witnessed the burning of the Talmud in 1553. He observed the date as a fast day for the rest of his life. Porto left Venice in 1574, possibly for Cremona, and subsequently served as rabbi of Verona from 1585 to 1592. In 1593, he was living in Cologne, where he wrote his commentary on the Pentateuch (published in 1594). However, his writings on other biblical books and Pirke Avot, as well as numerous responsa and rulings, remain in manuscript. Porto forbade the reading of Azariah de’ Rossi’s Me’or ‘enayim but later retracted this prohibition.