BETROTHAL CONTRACT OF SAMUEL COHEN AND LIDISIA SAROUK

(17th century)--The betrothal contract is kept in the Dubrovnik Archive, in the file of the local Sephardi Samuel Cohen. It reads:

"Under good auspices and at the blessed hour, Mistress Lidisia, daughter of the honorable old Mr. Shelom Sarouk, may he rest in paradise, resident of the city of Thessalonica, is hereby betrothed to Samuel Cohen, under the following terms.

First: the mother of the girl, Madame Siti, blessed be she among women, gives as dowry to the said daughter Lidisia one Spanish mattress, befitting her circumstances and dignity, and a maiden's trousseau.

Second: the marriage is to take place within two and a half years of today. The parties have agreed that if, for whatever reason, the said Master Samuel should not appear to marry Mistress Lidisia within this period, be it for reasons of his own or because of powers beyond his control, all jewelry and object he has bestowed upon his betrothed shall thereafter be considered hers in the eyes of the law and justice, and he shall have no right to appeal or complaint. These articles are specified as being the following: the bracelets on her wrists, necklaces, rings, cap, stockings, and toe warmers, totaling twenty-four in all. Worth the sum of two thousand two hundred akches, this is all a final gift to the said maiden if he fails to marry her within the appointed period of time. Furthermore, the said Mr. Samuel Cohen is bound by strict oath, like everyone who swears under the threat of excommunication, not to embrace or enter into matrimony with any woman in the world other than his betrothed Lidisia.

"Drawn and confirmed under the rule of law, Mr. Samuel Cohen takes the oath on this Monday, in the first quarter moon of the month Shevat in the year 5442, and everything is hereby forever and faithfully guaranteed.

"Judges Avram Hadida, Shelomo Adroke, and Josef Bahar Israel Alevi."

On the back of this document, a Dubrovnik informer had penned several comments about Cohen. One states that in a conversation held in the Stradun on March 2, 1680, Cohen said the following:

"The Khazars used fishing nets for sails on some of the ships in their flotilla, and these ships sailed like any other. When a Greek asked the Khazar priest how he accomplished this, a Jew standing nearby replied in their stead: 'it's simple. They catch in those nets something other than the wind.' "

The other comment written by the Dubrovnik informer refers to the noblewoman Ephrosinia Lukarevich. In May of that same year, Samuel Cohen met Lady Ephrosinia on Lucharitse Street and asked her the following question:

"Are you always beautiful, or just not on Friday evening, when should change, because that is when you won't let me see you?"

In reply, Lady Ephrosinia Lukarevich took a small candle from her belt, held it in front of her eyes, squinted with one, and looked at the wick with the other. That look spelled Cohen's name in the air, lit the wick, and illuminated her way home.