Jews Community

La Torah

The fortune of oria, between VII and X century, was mostly thanks to its Jews community one of the most prestigious in all Europe, with its philosopher, poet and doctors. The oritian jew distiguinshed themselves in the studies of midraism and torah. The most notorious son of Oria is shabetta domolo, commentator of the book of creation of the bible, and he was open to the Christian culture, roman side and greek side.

Shabbataj Ben Abraham Donnolo

The most famous son of Oria Shabbetai Donnolo wise biblical commentator of the Book of Creation, wise doctor open to confrontation with Christian culture. Donnolo, thanks to his knowledge and determination, anticipates the chief physician, a typical figure of the Middle Ages. The fame of Donnolo is added to that of other Oritani essays, mainly payyetanim, including Amittai the Elder, well Amittai Hananel, Shefatiah well Amittai, Zevadiah Haimaaz, Amittai well Shefatiah, and chronicler Ahimaaz well Paltiel, who declares himself a descendant of the prestigious Oria Jewish family. The only evidence of the Jewish community is the District Judea and Jews gate. Most of the Jews were killed or enslaved and deported to Sicily and Tunisia, the Donnolo himself was taken prisoner and then be redeemed in Taranto with the money of his family.

Jewish cemetery

A Jewish cemetery has been identified at the end of the 70s by prof. Cesare Colafemmina. it is probable that a second Jewish cemetery, thanks to epigraphic finds. A stele with bilingual inscription in Hebrew and Latin is preserved at the Public Library of Oria, others are part of private collections. The literary production of Amittai The Old influenced the funeral rites of the Jewish community Brindisi and his poem traces remain even in the Roman funeral.

The Golem

The oldest legends of Oria are documented in Jewish literature and are connected to the Jewish community of Oria. The most famous legend is that of a child in the ninth century resurrected by the wise Jews of the city and turned into a Golem; another, narrated in the twelfth century, is related to two Se’Irim thieves of infants. Both episodes are recorded by the legendary chronicler Ahimaaz ben Paltiel.