Shever BaMetzarim
Historical Account of the Livorno Earthquake, with Prayers for Protection
Livorno, 1742
‘Shever BaMetzarim’ by Rabbi Raphael Miledulo, author of ‘Mayim Rabim’ and Av Beis Din in Bayonne, France.
It includes two parts:
The first part is a 23-page historical diary, written in a particularly fine and polished language, describing the series of terrible earthquakes that took place in the community of Livorno that lasted for more than a week, and the chizuk and rescue activities of the community’s Jews at that time.
The second part is an order of prayers that the author instituted to say for an earthquake, and includes confessions and prayers from Rabbi Moshe Zechut, Rabbi Yosef Piamita, Rabbi David of Miledulo (the author’s brother-in-law), and more.
The Terrible Earthquakes in Livorno
In mid-Shevat in the year 1742, a long series of powerful earthquakes began in the vicinity of the city of Livorno, which lasted intermittently for more than a week, accompanied by strong winds. As a result of the earthquakes, all the Jewish homes in Livorno were damaged, as the author describes in the introduction.
On the first Shabbos after the first earthquake, one of the community’s sages began to speak, until his voice choked with tears and he could not continue. Immediately at the same time, the ground began shaking again, and as a result, many members of the community fainted in the shul.
The present sefer serves as a primary historical source for a description of the earthquakes, which the author himself witnessed firsthand.
The 22nd of Shevat was the day when the earthquakes ended and the community established it as a day of fasting. Rabbi Malachi HaKohen composed a special order of thanksgiving for their deliverance.
The author concludes with a blessing, expressed in his characteristic sharp manner:
"Let us lift our hearts with our hands to the Almighty in heaven, that the Order of Nezikin (damages/destruction) be reversed for us into the Orders of Kodshim (holiness) and Taharos (purity)."
A rare sefer.
Livorno, 1742. Singular edition.
Page count: [24] leaves. Small format: approx. 14.5 cm.
Condition: Good, few holes. Stains.
Original colored cardboard binding (slightly damaged, with perforations).
Provenance: William Gross Collection, Tel Aviv. This copy is the copy photographed in Otzar Hasefer HaIvri – Winograd.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Rabbi David Miledulo (1685-1748) came from an illustrious rabbinical family in Livorno. His father served in a Torah position on behalf of the Livorno community for forty years. In his youth, he served as Rosh Yeshiva of the Torah Ohr Yeshiva in Livorno after which he moved to the city of Pisa. He then served for twelve years as the Av Beis Din of the congregation ‘Nefutzos Yehuda’ in the city of Bayonne, France, after which he returned to his original home – Greater Livorno.
He wrote the teshuvos ‘Mayim Rabim’ (Amsterdam 1737), which received important approbations from all corners of the world, among them Rabbi Elazar Rokeach, Av Beis Din of Amsterdam.
His grandson is Rabbi David Miledulo, Av Beis Din of the Sephardic community in London.
