This is from the excerpts of Benjamin Tudela in his travels in Constanople No Jews live in the city, for they have been placed behind an inlet of the sea. An arm of the sea of Marmora shuts them in on the one side, and they are unable to go out except by way of the sea, when they want to do business with the inhabitants.… And amongst them are artificersin silk and many rich merchants. No Jew there is allowed to ride on horseback. The one exception is the king's physician, and through whom the Jews enjoy considerable alleviationof their oppression. For their condition is very low, and there is much hatred against them, which is fostered by the tanners , who throw out their dirty water in the streets before the doors of the Jewish houses and defile the Jews' quarter. So the Greeks hate the Jews, good and bad alike, and subject them to great oppression, and beat them in the streets, and in every way treat them with rigor . Yet the Jews are rich and good, kindly and charitable, and bear their lot with cheerfulness……. So Irosie is correct in her details… Frankly many of you shouldn’t be so lazy and could have looked it up for yourselves … I remember years ago the stories told about Yemenite Jews who when they prayed they swayed like they were riding a camel because it was forbidden for someone Jewish to ride one and be higher up then a Muslim so this was their way of making fun of their oppressors … There are many Catholic cannons for bidding Jews from many things one must just go about looking them up if one has a mind to… Happy Hunnukah Irosie may you and your family have a wonderful 8 days filled with light happiness and lots of latkah’s or shall I call you Peninah after Samuel’s mother…Shalom…