Samuel ha-Levi Abulafia

Samuel ha-Levi Abulafia (c. 1320–1360), born at Úbeda into the powerful Abulafia family, was treasurer to Peter the Cruel of Castile. He began as administrator to Juan Alfonso de Alburquerque, then rose at Peter's court from chamberlain to almojarife and judge.

When Henry of Trastámara's supporters staged a pogrom against Toledo's Jews and seized the royal treasures, Samuel went with the king to Toro to demand them back, then helped him reclaim Toledo and make peace with Portugal at Évora in 1358.

With the wealth Peter gave him he founded the Synagogue of El Tránsito in Toledo between 1355 and 1357, its Hebrew and Arabic inscriptions and Moorish features echoing the king's palace in Seville. In 1360, suspected of embezzlement, he was imprisoned and tortured, and died under torture.