[p.4]

He is a great scholar of the Talmud.  At Lunel live also their brother-in-law R. Moses, the chief rabbi, R. Samuel the elder[12], R. Ulsarnu, R. Solomon Hacohen, and R. Judah the Physician, the son of Tibbon, the Sephardi.  The students that come from distant lands to learn the Law are taught, boarded, lodged and clothed by the congregation, so long as they attend the house of study.  The community has wise, understanding and saintly men of great benevolence, who lend a helping hand to all their brethren both far and near.  The congregation consists of about 300 Jews—­may the Lord preserve them.

From there it is two parasangs to Posquieres, which is a large place containing about forty Jews, with an Academy under the auspices of the great Rabbi, R. Abraham, son of David, of blessed memory, an energetic and wise man, great as a talmudical authority[13].  People come to him from a distance to learn the Law at his lips, and they find rest in his house, and he teaches them.  Of those who are without means he also pays the expenses, for he is very rich.

[p.5]

The munificent R. Joseph, son of Menachem, also dwells here, and R. Benveniste, R. Benjamin, R. Abraham and R. Isaac, son of R. Meir of blessed memory.  Thence it is four parasangs to the suburb (Ghetto?) Bourg de St. Gilles, in which place there are about a hundred Jews.  Wise men abide there; at their head being R. Isaac, son of Jacob, R. Abraham, son of Judah, R. Eleazar, R. Jacob, R. Isaac, R. Moses and R. Jacob, son of rabbi Levi of blessed memory.  This is a place of pilgrimage of the Gentiles who come hither from the ends of the earth.  It is only three miles from the sea, and is situated upon the great River Rhone, which flows through the whole land of Provence.  Here dwells the illustrious R. Abba Mari, son of the late R. Isaac; he is the bailiff of Count Raymond[14].

[p.6]

Thence it is three parasangs to the city of Arles, which has about 200 Israelites, at their head being R. Moses, R. Tobias, R. Isaiah, R. Solomon, the chief rabbi R. Nathan, and R. Abba Mari, since deceased[15].

From there it is two days’ journey to Marseilles[16], which is a city of princely and wise citizens, possessing two congregations with about 300 Jews.  One congregation dwells below on the shore by the sea, the other is in the castle above.  They form a great academy of learned men, amongst them being R. Simeon, R. Solomon, R. Isaac, son of Abba Mari[17], R. Simeon, son of Antoli, and R. Jacob his brother; also R. Libero.  These persons are at the head of the upper academy.  At the head of the congregation below are R. Jacob Purpis[18], a wealthy man, and R. Abraham, son of R. Meir, his son-in-law, and R. Isaac, son of the late R. Meir.  It is a very busy city upon the sea-coast.

[p.7]