Rabbi Mordechai Zacuto and his Family

By J. Melkman

Until recently little was known about Moses Zacuto's youth, a Hebrew Poet, dramatist and kabalist who resided in Italy during his later life, and died in Mantua in 1697.

Except for a few statements he made himself, one had to be satisfied with the eulogy, that his student Benjamin Cohen from Reggio recited over him and further a few biographical notations, which are not very trustworthy. Of a more serious note was that his biographies made extreme and even wrong conclusions from the material that was available to them. These provided the foundation for the hypothesis that most scholars accept that he was born in 1625 and that during his youth he was raised to an extent in the teachings of the mystics (mysticism) and that he went to Poland to study the Zohar. There was but one biographer who gave clear evidence that Moses Zacuto was born around 1612, but this argument was viewed as having no solid basis. No one doubted that he did go to Posen to study the Kabbala, although in his time the Sefardische world knew more Kabbalists besides the Asjkenasidine and Posen was least known as a center for the Kaballa.

We already pointed out and demonstrated earlier that the picture painted by Jewish historicals of Rabbi Moses Zacuto was completely distorted. In the meantime we were able to study the problem closer and were able to find in the municipal archives of Amsterdam a great deal of interesting information, that will allow us to have a greater understanding about he surroundings of Moses Zacuto was raised up in, and why he moved around frequently about which he complains. The documents we found are of the Marranos, but that is not the purpose of our investigation. We will therefore discuss the documents in chronological order as far as they are important to Moses Zacuto's life, leaving any further study of the documents to others.

1. May 14, 1614: Anrique Zacuto, Portuguese broker, comes across with boatman Pieter Franz, to bring along Diego Nunez, a young man 29 years old mentioned only this once, the son of Anrique Zacuto form Lisbon to Amsterdam with his ships.

Anrique Zacuto, when later we'll also meet as Mose Zacuto, is the grandfather of Rabbi Moses Zacuto. Is Diogo Nunex the same as Mordechai Zacuto, the father of Moses? In any case it is apparent that the Zacuto family was known in Portugal by the name Nunez, because by 1637 one of Anrique (Mose) Zacuto's daughters still lived in Lisbon by the name of Isabel Nunez (see nr. 19, 20). More difficulties to pinpoint the identity of Diogo Nunez. This is because we find only 2 heirs under Moses Zacuto's Sr. Name, that are sons: Abraham and Mordechai, thus it seems obvious that the 20 year old young man is Moses. But on the other hand two documents seem to refute this: one that points out that Mordechai was already married before he came to Amsterdam (see nr2) and that Diogo was single (living by himself): and the other, that in Posen mention is made of a possible younger brother of Mordechai see (nr 14). It is therefore possible that there was a younger brother, who died before his father and in that case no document available is which gives evidence of Mordechai and his family's move to Amsterdam.

2. 1615: According to a notation in the register of the Sefardischce municipality, Bet Jacob marries Mordechai Zacuto again.

When Marranos returned to Judaism, they renewed their wedding vows, for this was required by Jewish law. This occurred quite swiftly usually after their arrival We can therefore assume that Mordechai Zacuto arrived in Amsterdam around 1614 or 1615. He was at that time already married, thus it should not be ruled out that Moses Zacuto was already born at that time.

3. March 26, 1616: Simon Rodriques da costa alias Jacomo Roiz de Costa, carried forward insurance policies to Enrique Zacuto at the payoff of his debt.

This is the first sign of financial transaction made by Moses Zacuto Sr., that we found.

4. November 17, 1616: A business transaction regarding a diamond between Moseh alias Anrique Zacuto and Mordechai Zacuto son of Moseh the one party, and Manual Cordozo de Miao also named Manuel Texeira the other party, having procured from Alvaro de Niys of Hamburg and Daniel de Hollande alisa Gomes Rodriquez Milao.

This business transaction points out that Moses Zacuto and his son had connections with the most important Marrano families, whose business activities were carried out in many countries.

5. (Portuguese document)

Samaria Vides de Galilea, about 50 years old, declares that about 6 months ago he was in great Poland in the city of Posen, where he visited one day Mordechai Zacuto's warehouse and saw there a particular type of wool.

From this important declaration we find htat Mordechai already resided in Posen during the second half of 1617 and there had a textiles firm. Why this declaration was made is not very clear, but for our purposes not important. We can learn form this that the Zacuto family tried to establish themselves in Poland. Jews were active during the early 17^th century with the import and export of goods from Poland, and the demand for textile from Western Europe were such, that Anrique Zacuto commissioned one of his sons to open a factory there.

The fact that a resident from Galilee Amsterdam served as a witness in connection with the Company in Poland, gives evidence of the scope of Portuguese Sews' international connections.

6. September 22, 1619: Transaction between Nunez Home. and Henrico Zacuto regarding outstanding debts for insuring ships from Lisbon to Angola and the West-Indies.

Also this document points out the scope of this family's international trade.

7. December 10, 1618: Henrico Zacuto spends 120 Carolus Guilders so Nicolas Benoit can teach his son Mordechai Zacuto how to polish rubies, saphires, etc.

From this document it seems that Mordechal Zacuto's first attempt to establish himself did not succeed. The reason for this we can surmise from later documents. rn any case it is uncertain whether Mordecci Zacuto's family resided in Posen at that time.

8. April 15, 1620: Henrique Zacuto alias Moseh Zacuto carries forward upon Francisco Nunes Hoem a debenture chargeable to Manuel Mendes Castro.

From this transaction it becomes apparent that the Zacuto's at that time had connections with Hamburg, from where Manuel Mendes de Castro among other things represented firms from Amsterdam.

9. August 6, 16203 Declaration from Manuel Pimentel 25 years old, per Henrico Zacuto's request, that he was in company with Abraham Bezamerro and Mordechai Zacuto visiting the city of Posnania and that Zacuto received "certain sheets"(cloth) sent from here by Enrico Zacuto.

We can see therefore that after 2 years the family made another attempt to establish a business firm in Posen, and this time succeeded in it for a longer period.

10. December 3, 1620: Declaration by Jacob Lucas, cloth (sheet) salesman, per request from Enrico Zacuto regarding his son Mordechai Zacuto, that he received the previous year from Mordechai 48 white sheets (cloth), which he ordered from Jan Cornelis "Venus" to be dyed (painted) by him.

11. December 24, l62O: (old dutch document p. 149)

This document points out, that Anrique Zacuto also had business relations in India, especially in Goa, where at that time a Marrano colony existed. What is also interesting is that he was represented by a business deputy in Lisbon, which shows that the extent of his business dealings weren't scanty.

12. August 1621: Moses Zacuto gives authority to his nephew Isak Zacuto in Venice for claims from Abraham Arbanel also in Venice.

As usual among Safardische families relatives represented each other. Moses Zacuto's business dealings stretched out into the center of Sefardische Jews, Venice.

13. March 29, 1623: Diogo Martina Bendia, Portuguese salesman in Amsterdam sold on November 2, 1622 to Mose Zacuto alias Enrico Zacuto, sworn Portugese broker, 38 pieces of sheets (cloth), which can be found in Dantzig in the hands of Fransisco Dias Nunes.

More proof of the Zacuto's Polish trade. Portuguese Jews tried to establish themselves in Dantzig. Fransisco Dias Nunes from Lisbon is also known to us from other documents as an agent for Portuguese Jews residing in Amsterdam.

14. Decision by the Jewish Municipality in Posen

(Hebrew document)

(translation)

"The brothers, misters Mordechai and his brother, sons of Moses Zacuto, resided with us to engage in the trade as one of us, which is unlawful, for they are strangers from a far away land and have no share with us so that they may have the same right as we have. For that reason the Kahal (municipality) decided they can reside with us not longer than a month, and during those days absolutely not to sell any goods to uncircumcised gentiles, only to Jews and they can't travel to any market in Lublin in compliance with the decree of the land Monday 14 Siwan 380 (June 15, 1620). The Kahal, may Rock and the Redeemer protect it, warned the named brothers not to travel to Lublin without permission from the Kahal in compliance with the decree from the chiefs (heads) of the land. Seen, the named brothers did no conform to the above, and the Kahal did not act sufficiently to pass Judgement upon them rapidly, and the first days have elapsed and the reckoning will begin as of this time, and from now on they can no longer reside among us and next Sunday they have to leave and not come back except to the markets, and when coming to the markets they have the right to stay here one or two days after the declaration of payment. If they God willing stay, then they will be punished with a fine of 1000 Zloty for the building of the schul in Swierzenc "municipality."

This is a very interesting document which we discovered in the annals of the Posener municipality, and it is worth it to painstakingly analyse it.

The leaders of the Posener community saw in both Portuguese's Jews competitors, whom they did not wish to tolerate in their midst. Even if Kingdom privileges determined that Jews were not to be overly burdened, and should be able to engage in business freely, the Posener Jews were less tolerant than the non Jewish authorities. We can also see that the decrees that were adapted in 1620 were also aimed at Mordechai Zacuto, whom we noted had already chosen his station in Posen in 1617. The wording of the text does seem to bear out a hard and long struggle took place before the decision was made. After at first they were permitted to stay for a month and were able to go to the market in Lublin only with the permission from the Kahal, to stay become even more restricted: no longer than the duration of the market itself. Both brothers are told to leave the city immediately.

At what time period should we date the decision. Baron gives the year 1620, but this must be a mistake, which document (nr 13) brings out. The decision even admits, that they did not enforce the decree from 1620, having overlooked it, and that some time elapsed, which would not be held against the brothers, in other words they wouldn't fine them for not following the decree. How much time passed during which the decree of 1620 was overlooked cannot be said. What is certain, however, based on other evidence, that the family resided in Posen for a reasonable time, it seems even until after 1630.

Who is Mordechai's brother, also told to leave the city? According to the distribution of Moses Sr. estate there only seem to be two brothers: Abraham and Mordechai. It could therefore be possible that the unnamed brother is Abraham. Singe Mordechai resided in Posen for a longer period, he is regarded as the principal person. One objection toward this identification is that Abraham was older than Mordechai and it would be improbable that the Posen Kahal would name the younger brother a head of the older, who must have been already forty years old at that time. Is it possible that Diogo Nunez, who was brought here from Lisbon in 1614 (see document), and was 20 years old, is not the same as Mordechai but is a younger brother, who worked for him? If that is the case he must have died, having no wife or children, before his grandfathers estate was divided.

15. March 23, 1629, Mordechai Zacuto, son of Moses Zacuto, alias Anrique Zacuto (deceased) receiving procuration from his brother Abraham and his sister Simca Zacuto declares having been paid by Juan Gonsales the amount he owed his father.

Mordechai raps up his father's business in Amsterdam. Simca resided there at the same time we know, in Posen and Abraham might have been there also.

16. 1629: Simca Zacuto the daughter of Moseh Zacuto in Poland asks to participate in the drawing of lots for bride treasures for Sefardische girls from the Dotar club (society) in Amsterdam.

From this it seems that the family did not leave Poland in 1629 yet. Simca was about to get married.

17. 13 adar 5390 (February 25, 1639) Again Simca asks the Dotar for a grant (allowance, gratification), but this time from Hamburg where she will married is married?), with Abraham Coen.

18. Abrahm Zacuto takes his fathers place as member of the Dotar brotherhood.

Instituted by Abraham Zacuto in behalf of himself as well as his brothers and sisters, children of the late Mose Zacuto, brother of Dr. Abraham Zacuto, and both lawful children of Isabel Nunes, plaintiffs, versus Abraham Franco Mendes defendant. The plaintiffs are the only heirs of Antonia (sister of Isabel Nunes) who passed away a few days ago. She left some furniture behind which was paid for by Philip Pelt with two bills of exchange which Manuel Rodriquez Jorga and Manuel Rodriques Isidro sent to Bento Osoria from Hamburg.

The merchants mentioned in this document belong to the most famous Sefardim.

20. March 22, 1637: Moses Zacuto's children divide the inheritance of Antonia Nunes

1. Abraham Zacuto

2. Isabel te Lissaben

3. Mordechai Zacuto's heirs

4. Sara Atia's, widow of Haham Izak Atias.

5. Rachel Atias te Aleppo

6. Simca, wife of Abraham Coen in Hamburg.

21. November 19, 1637: Izak Nahar signs the receipt on the subject of the inheritance from Antonia Nunez in the name of the heirs, in Amsterdam and in Hamburg, of Mordechai Zacuto.

We can assume that among the heirs' living in Hamburg belonged Moses Zacuto. Apparently some minors of Nordechai Zacuto were present in Amsterdam.

Isaac Nahar (or Naar) was a well known personality in Amsterdam. He was a physician and rabbi, in 1666 he was appointed as a delegate by the Rabbinate to visit Sabbatai Zevi. For several years he was Parnassus of the Talmud Tora, o.a. in 1637.

The documents about the Zacuto family give us a clear picture about the surroundings Moses Zacuto grew up in. They also help us to understand a few statements in his writing better.

The Zacuto family was a true Narrano family. In Portugal they had the name Nunez. While part of the family left to Amsterdam and there called themselves Zacuto, others stayed behind, but both branches of the family stayed in contact. The grandfather of Moses Zacuto, whom we also know under the name Enrico Anrique) met as Moses, already resided in Amsterdam in 1614. He must have been a big businessman, who engaged in intense commercial activity. The description Kellenbenz gives of the economic activity of the Sefardim in general, is completely applicable to him and his family. It was a family firm, which made use of family members to represent the firm in different places, Lisbon, Hamburg, and Venice were places where such representatives were found. What is interesting about Moses Zacuto Sr. was that he tried to establish himself in Eastern Europe, as one of few Portuguese, even stationing two of his sons in Posen. This attempt pails as a result of that Jewish community's resistance. But it seems that at that time the firm was already at a loss, receiving the fate of so many Portugese families who went after one generation over their peak. Nothing is left of Moses Zacuto's worldwide business: the daughters in any case married Rabbis, while no economic activity is known in Abraham's case, the brother of Mordechai. As we have seen Zacuto engaged in more than one trade, which was typical of the Sefardim at that time. While the firm keeps busy with the export of cloth to Poland, we see that Mordechai also engages in the shaping of diamonds, in which he and his father own a business.

From all this it appears that Rabbi Moses was raised in a true Marrano family, who were definitely wealthy. Due to the grandfather's expansions, the children had to move from one place to the next. That explains why Rabbi Moses had studied during his youth in different places, as his student Benjamin from Reggio tells. It is therefore clear why he studied in Posen, for his father had a sheet warehouse there. What is harder to establish is when he studied there. According to tradition he was supposed to be one of the first students of Rabbi Saul Levi Morteira. If this is true and we don't have to doubt this announcement by R.H.J.D. Azulai then it is probable that neither during his father's first stay in Posen (16&17) nor in the beginning of his second stay did he come along with father. According to Franco Mendes, Morteira started teaching the Talmud Torah in 1616, but first in 1621 a contract was signed with him. One would have to establish Rabbi Moses birth date early, if one would make him a student of Morteira in 1616. That he viewed himself as a student of Norteira can be seen in the poem he composed after the death of his teacher. It is very likely Mordechai sent for his son to come to Posen when it seemed that the decree from 1620 would not be carried out. As we established earlier, it is not possible to give an exact time when the family left Posen. In any case it was not before 1629, for at that time an aunt of Rabbi Moses was there surely before 1637, at which time Mordechai had already deceased. Did Rabbi Moses leave Posen directly for Hamburg, where we meet him in 1642? Maybe, but it is also possible he went first to Amsterdam before he established himself in Hamburg.

Taking into consideration the confusion of the name Moses Zacuto caused, it isn't at all redundant to mention that the family branched out even more in the seventeenth century. We are sure, several families lived in Hamburg. We also noted in our documents that a cousin lived in Venice. But we also meet members of the family in Zamosc (Poland), under which another "Mojzesz", which does give evidence how common that name was in that family.

A study of the mutual relationship of the family members and their business relations can bring to light interesting data about the world entailing business of the Marranos.

ABRAHAN ZACUTO (astronomer) B. 1452 Salamanca, Spain..D. 1510 Turkey.

His ancestors were Jewish exiles from Castile France 1306.

1504 wrote "Sefer Hayuhasin" genealogy from creation. Wrote "Biur Luhoth" astronomical treatise still in manuscript.

Bil: Filipowski H. editd (1473-1479)

Mark A. "Linda R. Miller Memoria book (l939) also Essays and studies in Memory of Linda R. Miller (1939) by I. Davidson.

Burgos, Cantera !Abraham Zacuto, Siglo XV (Madrid 1935) "El judio Salmantino Abraham Zacut (1913).

Wrote Ha-Hibbur ha-Gadol (l473-1478) Bishop Gonzalo de Vivero, his patron, in his will requested that all of Zacutos Spanish writings be compiled & bound in one volume & placed in Cathedral liibrary (Salamanca)

Settled in GATA, Province of CACERES, wrote "Tratado breve en las influencias del cielo" under sponsorship of Don Juan de Zuniga (master of the Order of Knights of Aleantara" "Dc las eclipes del sol y de la luna (Castilian trans., Published by J. de Carvalho in 1928.

Appointed Court astronomer by King John II of Portugal. King's successor Manuel I confirmed the appt.

Columbus used his tables on his voyages and on one occasion they were instrumental in saving him and his crew from certain death.

1491 it was translated into Spanish by Juan de Salaya, professor of astrology at University of Salamanca.

His pupil Joseph Vicinho translated version of Ha-Hibbur ha-Gado into Latin "Almanach Perpetuum Celestium Motuum" and then into Spanish (publ. in Leiria 1496) in Portugal also US library of Congress. Arabic translation in Milan.

Cecil Roths "Sefarad" (1949)

H. Friedenwald "Jew and Medicine"

Abraham Zacuto was also known as DIEGO RODRIGO

1513 was in Jerusalem at Veshivah of R. Isaac Sholal

Fled Portugal and went to Tunis 1504

The almanacs and astronomical tables that Columbus gathered for the trip were compiled by Abraham Ben Zacuto, professor at University of Salamanca. It was Senor Zacuto who introduced Columbus and officers of his expedition to the prominent Jewish banker Don Isaac Abravanel, who was one of the first to offer Columbus financial backing.

The governments debt to Senior Zacuto was 1,500,000 maravedis..was ordered paid. Zacuto thinking it over, reported to his old friend and former house guest King Ferdinand that he would prefer to remain in Madrid and that he would accept baptism as the price. The king was delighted, and the Zacuto family was baptized in the palace and changed its name to Coronel "Don Abraham".

Bishop Diogo Ortiz furnished the books and maps that were so necessary for Vasco da Gama, while Zacuto provided astronomical instruments, he had developed a theory concerning the prediction of storms.

In 1496 Abraham Zacuto and his son Samuel left Portugal for Africa and to Turkey at time of expulsion of Jews from Portugal. His disciple was Joseph Vizinho.

In 1524 Zacuto was in Damascus.

'M.steinscheider "Die Geschictsliteratur " .Revista de la Academia de Ciencias de Madrid, 27 (1931)

Zacuto was astronomer and chronographer to Manuel the Great of Portugal

He was professor at University of Salmanaca and later at Saragosa.

"Sefer ha Yuhasin was edited by Samuel Shalom in Constaninople (1566) reprinted in 1591 in Cracow, Amsterdam in 1717, at Konigsberg 1591 and a complete edition was published by

Filipowski in London in 1857.

Another of the great physicians in the medicine Renaissance was Abraham Ben Samuel Zacutus, also known as Diego Rodrigo.

His great-great-grandson, well known under the name of Zacutus Lusitanus, born in Lisbon 1575 took his doctors degree in Salamanca in 1596 and went to Amsterdam in 1625. He was one of the first to describe blackwater fever, and made an important contribution to the knowledge of syphilis. His "Opera Omnia wer published in Lyons in tow large volumes (1641-1644) and were dedicated to Louis XIII of France.

Berl Kagan's 1975 book "Sefer Haprenumerantn (Hebrew Subscription lists) List of 9000 European towns shows subscribers to the book "ZACHUTA D' ABRAHAM"

Encyclopedia Judaica: Aboab, Isaac Vol 2:903-Astronomy Vol 3:802 & 805 - Historical list Vol 8:766-777 - Jewish History vol 11: 349 - Medicine Vol 11:1191 - Museum named for him Vol 15:1213- nautical instruments Vol 14:1413 - Sefer Yuhasin Vol 8:556 - _____unisia Vol 15:1441 - autograph Vol 3:918 - calendar conversion chart (l568) Vol 5:53

Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana, Amsterdam University Library, Amsterdam, N.D.

Jews in Amsterdam by Meyer Sluyser

Jewish Men & Women in the Cultural History of mankind by Adolph Kohut

The great Jewish National Biography by Salomon Wininger

ZAKHOR (Jewish History) by Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi (Abraham Zacuto "Sefer Ya husin" book of genealogies

A.A. Neuman !Abraham Zacuto, Historiographer")

Harry Austryn Wolfson Jubilee Volume (Jerusalem 1965) 2:597-629

Cecil Roth "The last years of Abraham Zacut" Sefarad 9 (1949)

Shohat, "R. Abraham Zacut bi-yeshibat R. Vizhak Sholal ___ershalayim" (Zacuto in the academy of R. Issac Sholal in Jerusalem, Z 13-14 (1949-49) :43-46: and recent study by M. Bet-Arye and M. Idel "Ma'amar al Ha-Qez veha'Iztagninutme-et R. Abraham Zacut: (A treatise on the time of the redemption and on astrology by R. Abraham. Zacut), Kirjath Sefer, 54(1979) 174-92

Abraham ben Samuel Zacutus, also known as Diego Rodrigo

Elias Hayim Lindo: The history of the Jews of Spain and Portugal from the earliest times to their final expulsion from those kingdoms, and their subsequent dispersion, Londres 1848

Samuuel Moreson "Portuguese voyages to America 15^th century (Cambridge-Harvard press 1940)

Heinrica Graety (or Henry Graty) "History of the Jews from earliest times, Vol 5 and Vol 4

Edgar Prestage "The Portuguese Pioneers (l933)

Anita Libman Libeson "Pilgrim People"

Edwin Halle "The role of Jews in Discovering of New World

Ruth Samuels "Pathways through Jewish History

McCaffery "Astrolgy and religion

New World-Old problems (chapters 11-13--14) Cornel Zacuto was Baptized

Robert Sugar "Journey of Fifteen Century"

The Marranos of Spain 14/16 century by B. Netanyahu

Encyclopedia Sefardica Neurlandica, 2 vols. (Amsterdam 1949), Portuguese Jewish families

Geschichte der Juden in Spanien und Portugal by M. Kayserling (Berlin 1861)

A History of the Jews in Christian Spain by Yitzhak Baer, 2 vols (Phila Jewish Publication Society, 1961)

History of the Jews of Spain and Portugal by Lindo

Noble Families Among the Sephardic Jews, by Isaac da Costa (London. Oxford University Press 1936)

Sefer Ha-qabbalah by Abraham Daud (translation Phila: Jewish Publication Society

The Sephardi Heritage by Richard Barnett (N.V. Ktav 1971)

Sources of Spanish-Jewish