A page from the manuscript describing auto-da-fé trials. The Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People, the National Library of Israel
Israel's National Library has digitized a rare 18th century manuscript recording the first 130 years of the Portuguese Inquisition tribunal's activities. The document contains information about trials, such as the number of victims, dates and locations.
The manuscript also contains the number of people burned at the stake. Among those prosesed Jews were "New Christians" accused of "Juda," yet not all of the defendants mentioned in the document. "Old Christians"' were also convicted of sodomy, bigamy, possession of forbidden books and sacrilege.
According to Yochai Ben-Ghedalia, director of the Central Archives for the History of the Jewish People at the National Library of Israel, We hope the newly discovered document will help scholars better investigate this fascinating and difficult period of history."
With information from JNS e Israel Hayom
