Poverty and Charity in Thesaloniki through Printed Ephemera: Yeshu‛á veRahamim Society between 1895 and 1916

Abstract

In this paper we edit and study a brochure written in Judeo-Spanish in Hebrew letters (aljamiado) published in Thessaloniki in 1916 and now preserved in the Tomás Navarro Tomás Library of csic. This brochure describes the activities of a charity called Yeshu‛á veRahamim who served since the 90s of 19th century and was devoted primarily to assist orphans, poor patients and women in labor. Editing the text of this booklet is the basis for a study of some aspects of poverty and charity in Sephardic society of the late 19th century and early 20th. We also offer some observations on linguistic of the text, paying special attention to expressions of treatment.