ABSTRACT
The Breve risposta constitutes, as its title implies, a direct response to the Discorso of Simone Luzzatto. It is written in the first person, with Luzzatto often addressed either by name “O Luzzatto,” or in the “polite” Italian second person plural “voi” form. Palontrotti then moves on to the fifth consideration of the Discorso. There, Luzzatto, to bolster his argument that it was more advantageous for the Venetians to deal with Jewish merchants than with other foreign merchants, had claimed that the Jews were always, under all forms of government, deferential and obedient. Palontrotti briefly summarizes Luzzatto’s argument and adds some “clarifications.” The protection granted by rulers to the Jews results from their mercy, which is concerned with human misery. Palontrotti relates that Tacitus had asserted that Judaism was a superstitious sect, while Luzzatto had denied this, pointing out that superstition was prohibited by divine law.
