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עמוד:62
Together o e er We Will Rescue Our Brothers in Captivity a v Lisbon , Portugal , 1472 Dear Yechiel of Pisa , I would like to tell you about events that have taken place among the Jews of our region . The King , long may he live , gathered some ships and sailors to travel to Africa , where he conquered territories and fought in the city of Arzila . Thank God , no Jews died , but two hundred and fifty were captured - men , women and children – and they are hungry , thirsty , naked and much in need . When we saw the children of Zion sold as slaves and servants , we , the leaders of the Jewish community of Portugal , decided to call for their freedom and pay the ransom for their release . Like the twelve tribes of Israel , we sent twelve emissaries , myself included , from city to city and country to country to take the children of Israel out of “ Egypt” and collect money to pay for their ransom . Thus far , we have ransomed two hundred and twenty of the captives for a large sum of money – ten thousand gold coins . As all their property has been stolen and they lack clothing and food , we must provide for all their needs . We have thirty prisoners yet to ransom , who have fallen into the hands of very harsh masters . This is a brief account of the events that we have been struggling with day and night . On hearing this , all Jews will be outraged and profoundly moved . Yitzhak Ben Yehuda Abarbanel ( Based on a letter from Rabbi Don Yitzhak Ben Yehuda Abarbanel to Yechiel of Pisa ) Pisa - Pisa , Italy The King - Alfonso V , King of Portugal Arzila - a city in Morocco Rabbi Don Yitzhak Ben Yehuda Abarbanel ( 1437 - 1508 ) Statesman who served in the court of the King of Portugal and one of the great Torah commentators .
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