UNA INVITACION A LOS JUDIOS DE EUROPA EN EL MEDIEVO A VENIR A VIVIR EN PAZ EN EL IMPERIO OTOMANO / Edirne Hahamı İzak Sarfati'nin Avrupa Yahudilerini Türkiye'ye Davet Mektubu

Kaynak: Moshe Sevilla-Sharon, Türkiye Yahudileri, İletişim Yayınları, İstanbul , 1992 s. 39-40 (Source : Rozanes, Togarma, tome 1, p. 20)


LETTER OF RABBI ISAAC ZARFATI (*)


I have heard of the afflictions, more bitter than death, that have befallen our brethren in Germany - of the tyrannical laws, the compulsory baptisms and the banishments, which are of daily occurrence. I am told that when they flee from one place a yet harder fate befalls them in another ... On all sides i learn of anguish of soul and torment of body; of daily exactions levied by merciless oppressors. The clergy and the monks, false priests that they are, rise up against the unhappy people of god ... For this reason they have made a law that every Jew found upon a Christian ship bound for the east shall be flung into the sea. Alas! How evil are the people of god in Germany entreated; how sad is their strength departed! They are driven hither and thither, and they are pursued even unto death... Brothers and teachers, friends and acquaintances! I, Isaac Zarfati, though i spring from a French stock, yet i was born in Germany, and sat there at the feet of my esteemed teachers. I proclaim to you that turkey is a land wherein nothing is lacking, and where, if you will, all shall yet be well with you. The way to the holy land lies upon to you through turkey. Is it not better for you to live under Muslims than under Christians? Here every man dwell at peace under his own vine and fig tree. Here you are allowed to wear the most precious garments. In Christendom, on the contrary, you dare not even venture to cloth your children in red or in blue, according to our taste, without exposing them to the insult or beaten black and blue, or kicked green and red, and therefore are ye condemned to go about meanly clad in sad colored raiment ... And now, seeing all these things, o Israel, wherefore sleepest thou? Arise! And leave this accursed land forever!
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(*) Bernard LEWIS, "The Jews of Islam" pp 135-136 (1984, Princeton University Press)
The letter was sent by Rabbi Yitzhak Sarfati (from Edirne, the Ottoman capital) to the Jewish communities in Europe. According to B. Lewis, H. GRAETZ dates the letter approx. 1454