Rachel Morpurgo - 19th-century Italian Jewish poet

His justification becomes an argument for the importance of women in traditional Jewish life:

The Exodus from Egypt was the most central event in the history of the Jewish people in the eyes of our prophets and sages, culminating in the formation of Israel as a nation. It is our obligation to remember the redemption all our lives, since the signs and wonders witnessed by our ancestors at the time were so marvelous and awesome that it is stated that "A maidservant perceived in the light of the Divine Presence on the sea and at the Giving of the Law what the prophet Ezekiel did not see." [51]

Castiglioni made it possible for us to become acquainted with and enjoy Rachel Morpurgo's poetry. One of her most charming poems is a farewell poem to her cousin Rachel Luzzatto upon her marriage to Solomon Sullam, which mirrors the close relationship they shared. [52]

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Rachel with Rachel is bonded

Like a necklace about the neck,

Your love for me is an ornament

On my head you are a crown.

The nimble play of rhyme and wit in this poem offer the pleasure her contemporaries found in her work.

YAEL LEVINE KATZ has a Ph.D. from the Talmud department of Bar-Ilan University, Israel She has published numerous articles, focusing mainly on women and Judaism. She resides in Jerusalem.

(1.) Rachel was a descendant of Rabbi Moses Hayyim Luzzatto, known by the acronym Ramhal (1707-1746), renowned kabbalist, author of ethical works, and Hebrew poet (Joseph Dan, "Luzzatto, Moses Hayyim," Encyclopedia Judaica [Jerusalem, 1972, Vol. 11], pp. 599-604). She was the daughter of Baruch Luzzatto. Her paternal grandfather was Isaac Luzzatto (1730-1803), noted physician and poet (Editorial Staff, "Luzzatto, Isaac," Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 11, p. 598). Isaac's brother was the physician and poet Ephraim Luzzatto (1729-1792) (Elieser Kagan, "Luzzatto, Ephraim," encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 11, pp. 597-598). Rachel's mother, Bracha, was a sister to Hezekiah Luzzatto (1761- 1824), father of scholar Samuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865), who was known by the acronym Shadal (Alexander Tobias, "Luzzatto, Samuel David," Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 11, pp. 604-607).

(2.) Thirty-seven issues were published between the years 1845-1873. All but the last were edited by publisher and writer Max Emanuel Stern (1811-1873) (Menucha Gilboa, Hebrew Periodicals in the 18th and 19th Centuries [Hebrew], Jerusalem, 1992, pp. 89-91. On Stem, see: Getzel Kressel, "Stem, Max Emanuel," Encyclopedia Judaica, Vol. 15, p. 390). During the first few years of its publication, the journal functioned in the capacity of a quarterly. Thereafter, it appeared at more irregular intervals. Many of the prominent writers and scholars of the time had their works published in this periodical.

(3.) Ugav Rahel(henceforth: UR), pp. 5-9. An Italian version of this account appears on pages 19-27.

(4.) UR, pp. 1-4. The Italian version of the essay is found on pages 11-19.

(5.) UR, pp. 29-45.