The 16th century is characterized as the Golden Age for the Jewish community, when the city was transformed into “The Jerusalem of The Balkans”. Due to its location and its port, Thessaloniki became wealthy maritime city, and the Jewish people prospered in the export trade. Some of the most eminent Sephardic Jews from Iberia immigrated to the city after their expulsion - Sephardic intellectuals, philosophers, poets, astronomers and physicians, helping the city flourish. In 1512 the first printing house in the Balkans was founded in Thessaloniki by the Jewish Juda Guedalia from Portugal. In 1537, the Jewish poet Samuel Usque granted Thessaloniki the title the “Mother of Israel''. Solomon Alkabetz, author of the Sabbath prayer Lecha Dodi, was born here, while Joseph Caro conceived his code of Jewish law, Beit Yosef, here.