DAROCA:

By: Richard Gottheil, Meyer Kayserling

Town in the Spanish province of Saragossa, and formerly a part of the ancient kingdom of Aragon. It contains an old Jewish community. It had its privileges, like the neighboring community of Calatayud, and for the most part shared the same fortunes. In 1264 it paid an annual tax of seven hundred and fifty dineros. Many wealthy Jews lived at Daroca, among them Don Abraham Maquatel (Maquarel), a contemporary of Isaac b. Sheshet. A number of them were baptized in 1413, among them a wealthy Jew named Alfonso Reus; the Ram family, whose children and grandchildren filled high offices; and others. Don Astruc ha-Levi represented the community of Daroca at the disputation of Tortosa, and was the author of the circular letter to the community of Gerona.

G. M. K.