Toledo, Moses de

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TOLEDO, MOSES DE

TOLEDO, MOSES DE (fl. first part of 17th century), Jerusalem ḥakham and emissary. In 1628 Toledo traveled through the Greek islands, reaching the island of Corfu at the beginning of winter. He was one of the numerous emissaries who were sent out from Jerusalem after the brutalities of the governor, Muhammad ibn Farukh, in 1625. The latter impoverished the Jews, who lost all of their possessions, and as a result of his extortions he even enslaved them to the Muslims for many years. The community of Corfu was generous with all the emissaries, but since Toledo was the third emissary from Jerusalem within a brief period, the community in a special letter to Jerusalem requested that no more emissaries be sent. Furthermore, it stated that the Corfu community would send its contributions directly to Jerusalem by the safest method available, in order to save the commissioning of an emissary and his expenses.

bibliography:

S. Baron, in: Sefer ha-Shanah li-Yhudei Amerikah, 6 (1942), 167–8; Yaari, Sheluḥei, 266.

[Avraham Yaari]