PATTO (PATO), BENJAMIN DIAS:
Spanish ḥakam and preacher; killed April, 1664; son of Jacob Dias Pato, and a pupil of Saul Levi Morteira, whose collection of sermons "Gibe'at Sha'ul" Patto and his fellow pupil Moses Jacob Belmonte edited in 1645. Patto was the first teacher at the educational and charitable institution known as "Abi Yetomim," called also the "Academia de los Huerfanos," founded at Amsterdam in 1648. The epitaph written by his colleague Solomon de Oliveyra confirms the statement made by D. L. de Barrios regarding the murder of Patto. Patto was the author of a Spanish poem (printed in "Elogios Que Zelosos Dedicaron," etc., p. 112) on the death of the martyr Bernal.
Bibliography:
- Barrios, Arbol de las Vidas, p. 78;
- idem, Triumpho del Govierno Popular, p. 50;
- Solomon de Oliveyra, Sharsherot Gablut, p. 64;
- Kayserling, Bibl. Esp.-Port.-Jud. p. 85;
- idem, in R. E. J. xxxii. 92.
