The Ḥevrat Gemilut Ḥasadim of Lugo and the death recordings of two distinguished fellows: Rabbis Avraham Dawid and Šelomoh Yaḥyah

This article deals with the Hevrat Gemilut hasadim (Good Works or Mercy Society) of Jewish community of Lugo. This association handled the burial of each member of the community and its activities specifically consisted in looking after the family members of the dying preparing the body before the burial; organizing the funeral procession and ceremony; cemetery maintenance; assisting mourners; saying ritual prayers; distributing provisions and medicine for sick people. It was instituted on 16 Hešwan 5418, i.e. 23rd October 1657, and its statutes can be found on the front pages of the manuscript containing the Book of the Dead of the Jewish Community of Lugo. The text of the statutes shows a very interesting insight of religious and social welfare life of the Jews of Lugo. It was considered very prestigious to be a member of the Brotherhood. This is clearly apparent not only from the analysis of the statute, but also from the passages taken from the death records of some of the most illustrious members, such as the rabbis Mika’el Avraham Dawid and Šelomoh Yahyah.