Textos historiogràfics sobre els jueus de Cervera

Transcripció de tres textos del Llibre verd del racional de l'Arxiu Històric Comarcal de Cervera que il·lustren la participació de la comunitat jueva local en la vida sociopolítica de la vila durant el segle XV. Segons aquestes fonts, els jueus participaren amb llurs conciutadans cristians almenys en tres esdeveniments. El maig de 1448, en una reunió del capítol dels franciscans, els secretaris de l'aljama, oferiren aliments al capítol en nom dels jueus de Cervera. El juny de 1458, el rei Alfons IV de la Corona de Catalunya-Aragó morí a Nàpols. La comunitat jueva participà en una de les cerimònies funeràries. El gener de 1479, traspassà el rei Joan II, i el municipi decidí novament que calia celebrar algunes cerimònies en honor del rei, en les quals participà també la comunitat jueva.Historiographical texts concerning the Jews of Cervera (15th century) The first volume of the Llibre verd del racional, which is kept at the Arxiu Històric Comarcal of Cervera and contains all the events that took place in that village from 1448 until 1735, includes several texts that cast a special light on the participation of the local Jewish community in the sociopolitical life of the village during the 15th century. According to these sources, at least three events prompted the Jews to take part in the activities of their Christian fellow citizens. In May 1448 a meeting of the chapter of the Franciscan friars was held in Cervera. Around two hundred and fifty members of the order attended the meeting, which lasted for five days. Both the town council and the guilds of Cervera presented the friars with food and gifts. The document shows that the secretaries of the aljama, accompanied by other leading members, also brought some food to the chapter (sixteen boxes filled with sweets, in addition to five florins) in the name of the Jews of Cervera. In June 1458, king Alphonse IV of the Crown of Catalonia-Aragon died in Naples. When this sad piece of news reached Cervera, the village organized several ceremonies and church services to show the people's grief. One of these funeral rites was performed by the Jewish community. On August 1st, the Jews of Cervera betook themselves to the Plaça del Blat in funeral procession, carrying a symbolic catafalque (called monument in the document) on their shoulders. On arriving at that place, they laid down the catafalque and Jewish women mourned for the king. Mestre (rabbi) Cresques Adret made a funeral oration, exalting the deceased monarch, whom he had happened to know in Naples. Twenty years later, in January 1479, another king of the Crown of Catalonia- Aragon, John II, passed away, and again the town council provided that some ceremonies should be held in the king's honour. On February 9th, the Jewish community came out of the Call and proceeded to the Plaça del Blat, carrying a symbolic catafalque draped with a black cloth bearing the royal arms. There, Mestre Cresques Cofen eulogized the deceased king. It is worth noting that while Hebrew was used in the religious service, songs were sung by Jews and Jewesses in Catalan (romanç) in praise of the king. The article gives the complete transcription of these texts made directly from the original manuscript