Manuscript, a scroll describing the deliverance from a possible pogrom of the Jewish community in Fossano during the French siege of the city. [Fossano, Italy, 1796].
In 1796, Napoleon conquered Northern Italy. During the battles between the French and the Austrians, the Jews in that region were attacked, and their property was plundered by their non-Jewish neighbors who accused the Jews of being traitors, and of being faithful to Napoleon. This was the case also in Fassano, where the Jewish ghetto was raided during the French siege. The Jews locked themselves in the synagogue, praying for salvation, which eventually came indeed with the break of dawn; when a French shell landed on the steps leading to the synagogue, frightening the mob away.
This scroll was written in commemoration of this event and contains a poem of thanks composed of 36 stanzas and a long poetic introduction with a picturesque description of the miracle of the salvation. ["In 1797, during the war, this place was filled with terror… the fourth night of Pesach… was changed to dread… while outside the French were battling to enter the city… armed men gathered, thieves of various sorts.. The whole community was trembling lest the enemy enter the Coveted House… The morning dawned and all the plunderers ran away petrified…"]. The introduction, which includes additional details of the event, mentions also the community regulation to read this poem every year in memory of the miracle. In the poem's last line, the word Avraham is emboldened, hinting to the name of the composer, the rabbi of the city – Rabbi Avraham.
Fossano is one of the three AFM communities [Asti, Fossano, and Moncalvo] in the Piemonte district of Northern Italy. These ancient communities were established by French exiles after their expulsion in the 12th century and they preserved the early French customs [called AFM customs], which differed from those of the other Italian communities.
[This poem was printed in a limited number of copies for the community members, apparently in Fossano, that same year. See Kedem catalog no. 27, Item 488].
This manuscript has evidently been written by the author himself as can be derived from the Italian inscription added after the poem signed "Avraham---" [the rest is missing]. Apparently he was also the sender of the manuscript [the folding marks of the letter, with the address of the recipient are on the reverse side of the leaf].
[2] leaves. 27.5 cm. Fair condition. Spotting, folding marks and tears. Wear around the edges of the leaf (with slight damage to text). Coarse tears on the second leaf, with damages caused also to the Italian inscription. However, the text composing the poem suffered no damages.
Enclosed is a professional opinion with the full transcription of the manuscript.