Medieval Jewish History

The palaeography of the Qumran manuscripts. The evolution of the Hebrew script in the western world from the oriental square writing of the north-east (Babylonian) and of the south-west (Palestinian). Venosa and its role in the evolution of Hebrew writings in Italy. The three main traditions of Western Hebrew scripts: Italian, Sephardic and Ashkenazi. Reading exercises of Qumran manuscripts in square characters, and of manuscripts in Oriental, Italian, Sephardic and Ashkenazic semi-cursive and cursive scripts.

Very little is known about the internal life of the Jewish community in Provence and the Comtat Venaissin during the fifteenth century. Most of the community came to an end with the expulsion from the county of Provence in 1501. One of the few rabbinic scholars from this period whose name has been preserved is Mordechai Nathan, a physician and scholar from Avignon. Nathan is known as the owner of several monumental Hebrew manuscripts, and Rabbi Joseph Colon (Maharik) referred to him respectfully. This article analyzes for the first time a trove of responsa from fifteenth-century Provence, some of which were written by Mordechai Nathan and others that were sent to him. The responsa shed light on several aspects of Jewish life during this period, including the Hebrew vocabulary used by Provençal Jews, donations of Torah scrolls to the synagogue, private ownership of seats in the synagogue, communal charity for orphan brides, levirate marriage and divorce. An edition of the newly discovered responsa appears at the end of the article.