This study is devoted to a special case of conversion to Christianity of a Jew of humble origins, Moses Aron Sacerdoti, which occurred in 1786 in Revere and Mantua. The author examines the record of the trial at the request of the Chiefs of the local Jewish community: according to their opinion, the Catechumenal process did not comply with the conditions prescribed by the law. The Austrian legislation, in fact, required that the conversion be free and motivated only by spiritual choices and no other reasons or interests, nor because of promises of a better standard of living in the new religion. Moses had serious disagreements and quarrels with his family, especially with his mother because of his dissolute behaviour and for stealing money from her uncle, with whom he worked. In reading the minutes of the trial, the suspicion arises that this young Jew, of poor economic status, saw in the transition to the majority religion a way to rebuild his reputation among Christians, having entirely lost it among his coreligionists of Revere. Incredible, on the contrary, the unconditional exaltation that the Christian community of Revere bestows upon this Jew, seen as a hero to be saved and helped, rising to his defence regardless of any other consideration about his past, and by going against his mother and the Mayor of the town. The nineteen-year-old Moisè perhaps could not hope for anything better in his efforts to attain a new life: to be suddenly transformed in the new religion from thug, thief and degenerate into a victim and a hero to exalt, help and save.
Conversioni di ebrei a Mantova nel trado Settecento. Il caso del neofito Moisè Aron Sacerdoti da Revere (1786)
PERANI, MAURO
2015
Abstract
This study is devoted to a special case of conversion to Christianity of a Jew of humble origins, Moses Aron Sacerdoti, which occurred in 1786 in Revere and Mantua. The author examines the record of the trial at the request of the Chiefs of the local Jewish community: according to their opinion, the Catechumenal process did not comply with the conditions prescribed by the law. The Austrian legislation, in fact, required that the conversion be free and motivated only by spiritual choices and no other reasons or interests, nor because of promises of a better standard of living in the new religion. Moses had serious disagreements and quarrels with his family, especially with his mother because of his dissolute behaviour and for stealing money from her uncle, with whom he worked. In reading the minutes of the trial, the suspicion arises that this young Jew, of poor economic status, saw in the transition to the majority religion a way to rebuild his reputation among Christians, having entirely lost it among his coreligionists of Revere. Incredible, on the contrary, the unconditional exaltation that the Christian community of Revere bestows upon this Jew, seen as a hero to be saved and helped, rising to his defence regardless of any other consideration about his past, and by going against his mother and the Mayor of the town. The nineteen-year-old Moisè perhaps could not hope for anything better in his efforts to attain a new life: to be suddenly transformed in the new religion from thug, thief and degenerate into a victim and a hero to exalt, help and save.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
