Yechiel Porto (Yakov HaLevi) (1455 – circa.1505) == Fruma Zeligman >> Samuel Ginz ha-Levi Porto == N.N. >> Simche de Porto == Elieser Abraham Ulmo Günzburg (ca. 1477 – ca. 1544) >> Simon ben Elieser Günzburg (1506 – ca. 1582) == Hindle / Hendlen / Hindle / Handle / Rachel Linz (ca. 1510 – 1593) >> Channa / Hanna / Bunlin Günzburg (ca. 1535 – 1594) == Elias Eliyahu Halevi Öttingen >> R’Mordechai Model Levy-Öttingen == Rifke Sore >> Avraham Model de Vienne Halevi-Öttingen ( – 1637) == Vögele / Vogele Teomim >> HaRav Naftali Hirsch HaLevi Ettinge, Medico of Przemsyl == N. N. >> Ha Rosh Abraham Ahron Halevi Lichtenstadt == Dina Epstein >> Salomon Levi Öttingen / Ettinge-Levy ( – 1697) == Schifra Spira Wedeles >> Bele Öttingen-Levy == Isaac Schimon Bondi (1689 – 1754) >> Simon Isaak Bondi (ca. 1711 – 1733) == Magdelene Frankel-Teomim (1713 – 1778) >>Jonas Bondi (1732 – 1765) == Bella Schifra >> Chayle Bondi == Koppel Kolb (Loeb) of Bamberg (1747 – 1835) >> Moises Loeb / Moritz Reis (1782 – 1855) == Émilie Bickartt (1784 ) >> Jonas Reis (1809 – 1877) == Marian Samuel (1825 – 1900) >> REIS FAMILY
The family originally came from Lublin in Poland, then moved to Germany, and eventually settled at Porto in the vicinity of Verona, Italy. Around 1470 several members, including Rabbi Yehiel (or Jechiel) de Porto, returned to Germany, settling initially at Ulm.
The Porto family was notable for producing several prominent rabbis and scholars in Italy during the 16th and 17th centuries. Members of this family contributed to Jewish scholarship through works in Torah commentary, responsa, mathematics, astronomy, and even musical compositions. For details on this aspect of the Porto Family please visit the Seforim Blog.
Rabbi Yehiel (or Jechiel) de Porto, born circa 1455 in Porto, is recognized as a foundational figure in the genealogical history of the Günzburg family. Yechiel was also known by several other names: Jechiel aus Oporto; Jechiel ben Schmuel; Yehiel Porto, etc. His father was likely named Schmuel (Samuel). Yechiel died after 1506 in Ulm, Tübingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Not much is known of his personal life.
Rabbi Eliezer Abraham Ulmo Günzburg (1477–1544) was the son of Jechiel (Yehiel) de Porto and Fruma Zeligman of Porto ben Shmuel. Elieser Abraham was born in Porto in about 1477 and died at Ulm in about 1544.
Samuel Ginz ha-Levi Porto was another son of Jechiel de Porto and Fruma Zeligman, and of course the brother of Rabbi Eliezer Abraham.
Eliezer Abraham Ulmo Günzburg married Simche Günzburg who was the daughter of Samuel Ginz ha-Levi Porto the brother of Rabbi Eliezer Abraham Ulmo Günzburg. Thus Simche married her uncle. Such Uncle-Niece marriages were not an uncommon practice in Jewish communities of that era, often intended to preserve family lineage and strengthen familial bonds.
Samuel (Schmuel) Ginz ha Levi Porto was recognized for his contributions to Jewish communal life and is mentioned in historical records such as the Worms Memorbuch. He died on October 17, 1541, at Worms, Germany.
Samuel Ginz ha Levi’s descendants, particularly through his daughter’s Günzburg line, played influential roles in Jewish communities across Europe.
The grave of Samuel Ginz ha Levi (de Porto) at Worm’s is shown below. The inscription on the gravestone reads:T
The leader, Mr. (Shmuel, son of the Lord Yaakov Halevi(?) Günzburg of the leaders of the Levite community, his memory is a blessing I weep and lament over the cloud of glory; who rose early in the morning for prayer and always learned the Torah (with) his heart and was active (with) his hands in public affairs, the leader of the community for 60 years like a fresh olive tree, my father, crown of our head, the pious, the aged, Mr. Shmuel, son of the Lord Yaakov Halevi, his memory is a blessing, who died in a good name and was buried day 2, 26th Tishri, year 5 thousand and 302 after the Creation of the world. May his soul be bound in the bundle of life with all the righteous in the Garden of Eden. Amen. [Also buried at his feet was his grandson Rabbi Alexander Halevi, may his memory be a blessing, the honored Lord].
The Steinheim Epidat database describes the stone in more details as follows:
Lament of a son or daughter over their highly praised father, who died at an advanced age.
Lines 1 and 2: Headers; the frame in the middle section is damaged, so that the top line in particular can no longer be read in its entirety. (Conjectured information has been added in square brackets.)
Line 4: “Kawod he’anan” refers to the date of his death. Since Shmuel died shortly after Sukkot, it was appropriate to compare the praise and lament over the leader with the “‘annenei kawod” that God descended upon Israel in the desert (see 1b Succa 11b).
The reason for swapping the two terms here and choosing the singular is due to the rhyme.
Line 7: The olive branch is also an allusion to the date of his death shortly after Sukkot (cf. Neh 8:15).
Line 4: “Kawod he’anan” refers to the date of his death shortly after Sukkot (cf. Neh 8:15). 12 and 13: Reference that his grandson was buried at his feet.
Line 13: The last two abbreviations concerning the grandson are framed by two small lily ornaments.
Rhyme with -nan in the first part of the inscription, marked by a “colon.”
Date: Day 2, 26 Tishri 5302 = Monday, October 17, 1541
ha Levi Porto
