He served as the av bet din of Venice, where he rose to great prominence due to his vast knowledge of rabbinic literature.
Rabbi Samuel was also acquainted with secular learning and knew several languages including Latin, German, Ladino and Italian.
After serving as Chief Rabbi of Verona, he was appointed Av Bet Din of Venice in 1650, where he became involved in the controversy concerning Sabbethai Zevi and his apostle, Nathan of Gaza, who confessed to Rabbi Samuel, that his prophecies concerning the Messianic character of Sabbethai Zevi were mere deceptions.
It was only shortly before his death that he received permission from the doge to return to the city and to reassume his office, which in his absence had been conducted by his son Joseph, who later immigrated to Hebron.
[1][2][3][4] Rabbi Samuel's works provide important accounts of the atmosphere and day-to-day life of 17th century Italian Jewry.