Dear Fellow Researchers,

In 1575-76, R' Shaul Yehuda Katzenellenbogen, son of the Maharam of Padua, gave an 8 page eulogy for R' Zalman Rapa HaCohen of Mantua, who was his relative (I am also a distant relative of R' Zalman). It is our luck that the original text of this eulogy is preserved and I have obtained a copy. The text is written in Rashi script and is clear and easy to read.

I am seeking to understand better how the two rabbis were related.  However, my limited fluency prevents me from quickly locating the section of the text where personal and genealogical information about the deceased may be located. So I am asking if someone with reading facility may skim the document and point out the pages and lines within those pages where this information is contained so that I may proceed to translate those sections. NOTE: I am not asking for a translation of these 8 pages, only for the material to be skimmed in search of the relevant material. It seems to me there may be section headings written in the margins of the document, which could indicate whether the adjoining section is theological or specifically about the life of the deceased.

If you can help, here is the document: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuwT-4qnkJLBn3X45Y9-s6c0sBEf

Many Thanks and L'Shana Tovah

--
Adam Cherson,NY, NY
Benyakonski, Kherszon, Rubinovich, Solts, Grodsinski, Levine, Cohen, Kaplan, Lubetski, Karchmer, Horwitz, Rabinovich, Zussman (Lida, Voronova, Dieveniskes, Konvaliski, Smarhon, Vilna)
Genomics Publications and Presentations: https://independent.academia.edu/AdamCherson

Update

Several privately provided reports (thanks kindly) are suggesting that there is zero biographical or genealogical information in this eulogy. This comes as a complete surprise, considering the impetus for the investigation in the first place: according to the eminent historian of Jewish Life in Italy, Shlomo Simonsohn z"l, R' Meir Katzenellenbogen (Maharam of Padua) was a relative of R' Zalman Rapa HaCohen. Simonsohn was too good a historian to have made this a fact in his book History of the Jews in the Duchy of Milan without having concrete evidence. From the context of Simonsohn's statement (the alluded-to statement may be viewed here: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuwT-4qnkJLBoD4O7KgiFMLeP9lO?e=kXJ9xe), it would appear the source of the fact was the previously-referenced eulogy, delivered by R' Meir's son, R' Shmuel Yehuda Katzenellenbogen.This is why in this thread I am consulting with the research community regarding this eulogy.

What I am hearing thus far makes me wonder whether text I provided is a) the correct text referred to by Simonsohn, b) is a eulogy, and c) is a eulogy for R' Zalman Rapa HaCohen. If the answer to these three is 'yes' then I find it hard to understand why there is no discussion of the person being eulogized in the text. If it is verified that there is no evidence of the familial relationship between Rapa HaCohen and Meir Katzenellenbogen in this text, then where did Simonsohn obtain this fact?

Thoughts on this arcane matter would be appreciated.

I have also posted the complete book in which this eulogy appears, just in case I have mistaken the portion referred to Simonsohn: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuwT-4qnkJLBoDTkYINUg3eioNdT

--
Adam Cherson,NY, NY
Benyakonski, Kherszon, Rubinovich, Solts, Grodsinski, Levine, Cohen, Kaplan, Lubetski, Karchmer, Horwitz, Rabinovich, Zussman (Lida, Voronova, Dieveniskes, Konvaliski, Smarhon, Vilna)
Genomics Publications and Presentations: https://independent.academia.edu/AdamCherson

Dear Adam Cherson,
I take note of your deep interest in rabbinical ancestry and associated genealogical aspects.  On a strictly chance that we may have a mutual interest, I am attaching data that reflects my recent discovery of a direct link to the famed Kalonymus Rabbinical Dynasty that eminates from Lucca in the Lombardy province of Italy in the eight century, and may well have originated in Bari, the southern tip of Italy.
The Kalonymides settled in the Shum cities (Speyer, Worms, Mainz) and were the founders of the Ashkenazic rites. I attach two documents, one describing this family and the second is my direct descendant tree.
If this strikes a bell with you, I would be most pleased to hear from you.
Werner Frank
Thousand Oaks, Ca

It is indeed a eulogy for R' Zalman Katz of Mantua. It is not surprising to me that it does not contain biographical information, as the original purpose of a eulogy was to commemorate the good deeds of the deceased in a way that inspires others--not like eulogies today that sound like dinner testimonials.

An interesting side note: The caption says that the eulogy was delivered in the courtyard of the synagogue, because the synagogue was locked down due to a plague. Sounds eerily familiar.

Shlomo Katz
Silver Spring, MD