Textos historiogràfics sobre els jueus de Cervera

Historiographical texts concerning the Jews of
Cervera (15th century)
The first volume of the Llibre verd del racional, which is kept at the Arxiu
Històric Comarcal of Cervera and contains all the events that took place in that
village from 1448 until 1735, includes several texts that cast a special light on
the participation of the local Jewish community in the sociopolitical life of the
village during the 15th century. According to these sources, at least three events
prompted the Jews to take part in the activities of their Christian fellow citizens.

In May 1448 a meeting of the chapter of the Franciscan friars was held in
Cervera. Around two hundred and fifty members of the order attended the meeting, which lasted for five days. Both the town council and the guilds of
Cervera presented the friars with food and gifts. The document shows that the
secretaries of the aljama, accompanied by other leading members, also brought
some food to the chapter (sixteen boxes filled with sweets, in addition to five
florins) in the name of the Jews of Cervera.

In June 1458, king Alphonse IV of the Crown of Catalonia-Aragon died in
Naples. When this sad piece of news reached Cervera, the village organized several
ceremonies and church services to show the people's grief. One of these funeral
rites was performed by the Jewish community. On August 1st, the Jews of
Cervera betook themselves to the Plaça del Blat in funeral procession, carrying a
symbolic catafalque (called monument in the document) on their shoulders. On
arriving at that place, they laid down the catafalque and Jewish women mourned
for the king. Mestre (rabbi) Cresques Adret made a funeral oration, exalting
the deceased monarch, whom he had happened to know in Naples.

Twenty years later, in January 1479, another king of the Crown of Catalonia-
Aragon, John II, passed away, and again the town council provided that some
ceremonies should be held in the king's honour. On February 9th, the Jewish
community came out of the Call and proceeded to the Plaça del Blat, carrying a
symbolic catafalque draped with a black cloth bearing the royal arms. There,
Mestre Cresques Cofen eulogized the deceased king. It is worth noting that
while Hebrew was used in the religious service, songs were sung by Jews and
Jewesses in Catalan (romanç) in praise of the king.

The article gives the complete transcription of these texts made directly
from the original manuscript.