Samson Morpurgo (born in Gradisca, Austria, 1681; died in
Ancona, 1740), a rabbi and physician, studied medicine in
Padua and spent most of his rabbinical career in Ancona, where
he also practiced medicine. So great was his service to the city
during the influenza epidemic of 1730 that he was given a testi-
monial by Benedict XIV, who was then archbishop of Ancona.

The question discussed by Morpurgo throws light upon the
social customs of the Jews of Italy. It is clear from many Italian
responsa that a large number (perhaps the majority) of the
Italian Jews did not wear beards. In Isaac Lampronti's Pahad
Yitzhak there are responsa about men who removed their beards
with a razor, which is forbidden by Jewish Law. Azulai also dis-
cusses the habit of many Italian Jews of shaving with a razor, a
habit which he strongly deplores. However, in another respon-
sum, Azulai defends the right to remove the beard with scissors
or with clippers.

Morpurgo deals with an interesting form of the question,
which reveals a clash of custom between the beardless Jews of
Italy and the bearded Jews of Turkey. Some Italian Jews lived
in Salonika, Turkey, and the rabbis of Turkey threatened them
with expulsion from the community if they did not raise beards.
Morpurgo comes to the defense of the Italian Jews in Salonika.
The responsum is vol. I, Yoreh Deah, no. 61.

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