ELCHE:
City in the former kingdom of Valencia. When Don Jaime I. of Aragon took the city from the Moors, he gave houses and land to the Jews he found there, as he did to the other Jews of Valencia, and appointed a special street for them. In 1410 Vicente Ferrer came to Elche to carry on his work of conversion. Those Jews who remained true to their faith fled to Italy and Turkey. Abraham Rondi (perhaps Gerondi) lived here, and corresponded with Isaac ben Sheshet.
Bibliography:
- J. Amador de los Rios, Historia de los Judios de Espana, i. 403, ii. 425;
- Isaac b. Sheshet, Responsa, Nos. 333, 353, Jacobs, Sources, No. 827.
