Proposal for the Establishment of a Jewish College

David Provenzalo was a preacher and scholar in Mantua, Italy. A friend of Azariah de’ Rossi, he was versed in Jewish sources and also knew Latin, Italian, and Greek. His proposal for the establishment of a Jewish college, written with his son, Abraham, was addressed to the wealthy Jews of northern Italy. Provenzalo’s intention was not simply to introduce humanistic learning but also to ensure that Jewish students who wished to gain a general education remained faithful to their religion. The institution he envisioned would provide training to counteract the irreligious influences of general education. Although Provenzalo’s first initiative failed, he eventually succeeded in establishing a talmudic academy.