Iggeret Shmuel is a 16th-century commentary on the book of Ruth, published by Samuel de Uçeda after he left Safed and settled in Constantinople. It was printed by Dona Reyna Mendes, member of a wealthy family of Portuguese conversos who had fled the Inquisition and who were instrumental in building up Jewish culture and literature in Constantinople. The commentary offers multiple interpretations and frequently cites earlier scholars, from the talmudic era through the author’s own time. The author writes in his introduction that he chose the name of his work, “Samuel’s Letter,” not just because of his own name but in connection with the biblical Samuel, traditionally credited with writing the Book of Ruth. De Uçeda sees Ruth as a “letter” to all Jews that attests to the ancestry of King David, whose descent from Ruth is highlighted at the end of the book, and he wrote his commentary in the same spirit.
