The languages used by the Beza family and their associates in their correspondence are mainly French, often mixed with Italian, Judeo-Spanish (both in Latin and Rashi script), German, Ottoman and, post-war, Greek. Their use indicates not only the cultivation of the family, but also reflects the multicultural and cosmopolitan atmosphere of the meeting point of the Near East and Europe.
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Can’t be more international: An Italian card with the date in Italian, the address in French, the main text in Djudeo-Espanyol in rashi script and the bilingual stamp with the name of a professional contact in the Latin and Hebrew alphabets.

Can’t be more international: An Italian card with the date in Italian, the address in French, the main text in Djudeo-Espanyol in rashi script and the bilingual stamp with the name of a professional contact in the Latin and Hebrew alphabets.

The text in Djudeo-Espanyol in the rashi script, the closing greeting in French, the address Ottoman and French and the name in Djudeo-Espanyol in the Latin alphabet.

The text in Djudeo-Espanyol in the rashi script, the closing greeting in French, the address Ottoman and French and the name in Djudeo-Espanyol in the Latin alphabet.

Post-war card, sent by Leon to his uncle Alberto Beza in Greek, maybe in the frame of the effort to assimilate into Greek society. Some orthographic “difficulties” are discernible, maybe also because of his young age. The address on one of the cards remains in French however.