Medieval Jewish History + Professor Gorelik + Spring Semester 2002
Post-Mid-term Notes for the final exam
The Franks treated Jews on par with the Romans
The Church, on the other hand, demanded of their laymen to shun the Jews
But the clergy were not always obeyed
Clovis, king of France 481-511
True founder of the Frankish Empire
Converted to the Catholic faith
The Jews still remained unmolested
The policy remained the same under his immediate successors
Under the Merovingan Dynasty it became harsher for the Jews
At the third council of Orleans – 538:
Forbade Jews to appear in public for 4 days beginning with Holy Thursday (before Easter)
They didn’t want the Jews around because we killed their G-d
Bishop Avitos of Clermont executed such legislation
576: Jew insulted a renegade Jew in Clermont
A synagogue destroyed by a mob
Community suffered
Bishop offered a choice to the Jewish community; either accept Christianity or leave town
For three days the Jews wavered
500 converted
The remainder went to Marseilles
Council of Nacon forbad Jews in 581 to serve as judges or tax farmers
Jews must respect the clergy; when the priest appears, they must stand up
Jews guilty of converting Christian slaves would lose slaves and all property
629: Jews in France were ordered to accept baptism or leave
629-790: For a century and a half, Jews were not heard of in France
Narbonne, southern area of France, Jews remained
Lived in friendly relations with the Christians
Even joined with their neighbors in a rebellion against the king
673: Rebellion against king failed
They were driven out
689: there are records of Jews still remaining
Carolingian Dynasty
Jews shared the benefits in the Frankish kingdom
Charles the Great (Charlemagne): 768-814
His son, Louis the Pious, reigned from 814-840
Jews controlled almost entirely the commerce of the land, especially export and import
In Lyons, the market days were changed from Saturday
Some Jews were granted special privileges
Some restrictions on Jews:
Restrictions were placed on trade in certain areas
Unlawful to accept Church utensils as a pledge
Offenses against Christian law or Christian people were extremely punished
In a lawsuit, Jews were required to bring in more witnesses then the Christians
A special oath was required of a Jew
The Church was disturbed by Jewish trade in slavery and employment of Christian laborers
The Church was also disturbed the fact that Christian domestics abstained from work on Shabbas, and worked on Sunday
The Church was also disturbed by the fact that they may partake of Jewish food, but not vice-versa
Agobard of Lyons was a very zealous clergyman who agitated against the Jews
Synod of Lyons, 829-political struggle convened by Agobard
Deposed then reinstated
Louis the King was benevolent towards the Jews
Good relations between the Jews and Christians disturbed the clergy
The clergy and the bishops tried to separate them
The Christians might be influenced by the Jews
They engaged in a literary campaign against the Jews to reinstitute the old canonical restrictions against the Jews before the Carolingian Dynasty
Charles the Bold, reign: 843-877, didn’t adhere to the bishops’ demands
Jewish merchants still imported slaves
Clerical fanaticism began to spread slowly but surely
The clerics were very instrumental in deepening the hatred between the Christian and the Jew
Slaves that were circumcised were set free
In one town, between Palm Sunday and Easter, the Bishop summoned the Christians to wreak vengeance upon the Jews because they were guilty of deicide
In another town, the count of the city struck the chief of the Jewish community of Good Friday – a formal humiliation
Beginning in the 12th century in that town, the Jews would have to pay a penalty instead of having the chief slapped
??? - For example, because of a ruler that the Jews in a town, Senes,
When the royal power was lessened and we entered the power of feudalism, the nobles controlled the areas.
The Jews were now subjected to the whim of the nobles
Life was more tolerable in the south of France
Treaty of Verdun, 843, Germany was separated from France
Jews moved form the south, northward
Jewish communities were now established along the Rhine and in Bavaria
France and Germany become the centers for the Ba’alei Tosfos
Feudal law prohibited the Jews from owning land
Jews compelled to engage in commerce and business
The Church’s influence was strong in Germany, as well, as time wore on
Henry II, 1001-1024, ordered the expulsion of the Jews from Mayence
Many were baptized, including Rabbeinu Gershom’s son
There were local persecutions – there were times that they would simply kill a Jew
At the close of the 11th century, Pope Gregory VII, 1073-1085, and Pope Urban II, 1088-1099, contended with Emperor Henry IV, 1056-1106.
The emperor was reduced to humiliation in 1077, but he set up an anti-pope.
The anti-pope was more favorable of the Jewish situation
The bishop of Spires allowed the Jews to settle in the village and certain privileges were given to the Jews
Pope Urban II, November 1095, called for a Crusade
The Jews of France and Germany along the Rhine suspected it would be a most difficult period
The French Jews called on all other Jews to fast and to pray
Forced baptism, martyrdom, mob lynching
Some bishops, some citizens, made attempts to save Jews, but the mob was worked up into a frenzy by clerics, preachers. So those who wanted to save the Jews were overpowered and could not save the Jews
This is what were called Gzeirut Tatnu (Taf Taf Nun Vav)
After the first Crusaders entered the Holy City, there were few Jews left in Palestine
Pope Eugenius III, 1145-1153, called for the Second Crusade, 1146
The Jews were the first to be victims
Christian merchants were driving the Jews out of commerce and business and into money lending
Became more and more an object of hatred
The scale of massacre compared to the first crusade is not as bad
1146 and on serves as a turning point of the socio-economic Jewish society in France
Pope Innocent III, 1198-1216, brought the papacy to the zenith of its power
Moral prestige, religious authority, and, more importantly, temporal power
The relations with the Jews were dictated by the policies of the past
To him, Jews were witnesses to the validity of the Church because they were in exile
Therefore, they should not be oppressed because they should be witnesses…?
In 1199, he granted privileges that allowed the Jews to follow their religion yet demanded from the Jews that they release from payment the Crusaders from the interest they owe
4th Lateran Council, 1215, special enactments against the Jews
Jews must release Crusaders from interest payment
Christians were protected from exorbitant usury
Jewish converts were prohibited from practicing their Jewish practices in private
No Jew may hold public office
Jews were to wear distinctive garments
Turn of the 13th century, Jews accused of using Christian blood with matzah
1182: Jews ordered to leave Paris; some stayed and were Baptized
Synagogues were turned to churches; king confiscated all unmovable property
1199: a Jew was murdered in the Champagne area; the Jews hanged the murderer
Philip Augustus surrounded the town, demanded Baptism or death
Went on the third Crusade to wrest Jerusalem from the Muslims
1198: he recalled the Jews back to Paris and taxed them
Jews were not free to move from area to area
Third Crusade did not affect the Jews in Germany
They paid for protection
Frederick II, 1215-1250, investigated Christian Blood libel; found it false
Jews appointed ___ in Vienna
1237: Jews were reduced to almost perpetual slavery
1244: Duke issued a charter which served as a model for other areas
Certain rights
Interests were limited
Pledges regarding mortgages
Jews allowed to peddle from place to place
Jewish goods subject to toll
No tax from removing corpses area to area
Destruction of cemeteries punishable by death
Fines for synagogues
Protection against kidnapping of children
Can go to Jewish court
Testimony is valid
Louis IX, King of France, was to reverse later
Nicholas Donin preached accusations against the Talmud
1240: Pope Gregory IX ordered confiscation of all Talmuds
1242 debate: Rabbeinu Yechiel
24 cartons of Hebrew books burned & again in 1248
R' Solomon ben Isaac (Shlomo ben Yitzchak), 1040-1105
born in Troyes, France, two years after Rav Hai Gaon's death
lived during the First Crusade
after his death, his students flocked to his burial
wrote commentary on Talmud which far surpassed all previous attempts
opened up the text for all-one can learn even in-depth, from his commentaries
Wrote Torah commentary
Though he wrote on it surfacially, it can be understood more deeply
Wrote some sha'alos u'tshuvos
Three daughters, helped him write notes
Two major sons-in-laws: Rav Meir ben Shmuel from Romeru & Rav Yehuda ben Nassan
They laid down the traditions of Tosafos
The Tosafos tradition was an outgrowth of RASHI (and his commentaries)
Two of classical ba'alei Tosafos were Yaakov Tam (Rabbeinu Tam) & Shlomo ben Meir (RASHBAM)
They were brothers, grandchildren of RASHI
Rabbeinu Tam was a very strong, vigorous individual who had no qualms disputing others
RASHBAM tried RASHI's approach in Talmud but couldn't do it well enough
Rabbeinu Tam was replaced by R' Yitzchak ben Shmuel of Dampierre, known as the older RI (RI HaZakain)
Other families were known as Ba'alei Tosafos
One such family was from Sens
R' Shimshon from Sens wrote commentaries on the Mishnaic sedarim of Zeraim & Taharos
He, with 300 French and English rabbis, left Europe and settled in Eretz Yisrael in 1211
His brother, Isaac (Yitzchak) the Younger & Yehuda ben Isaac (Yitzchak) of Paris continued to work on Tosafos
The Tosafos tradition in the Ashkenazic world existed in France, Germany, and England
The Sephardic world studied some of the Tosafos tradition
Eliezer ben Shmuel of Metz, died in 1198, was a student of Rabbeinu Tam, authored Sefer Yeraim-outline of the 613 mitzvos, contains fundamental halachos
Another important sefer was authored by Baruch ben Yitzchak, who resided in Ratisborn, wrote a classic
In Germany & France, the Jews were not integrated but in Spain, there were and more cultural openings
Also in Germany & France, there was a mystical movement
Someone authored the Sefer HaChasidim, including minhagim, halachos, etc.
Rav Yehuda HaChasid, died 1200
Sefer Mishpat Godol
Ohr Zerua authored by ? ben Moshe, 1180-1250, major sage
The Rambam’s Letter on Astrology: Three things that a man can know something is proper:
A thing for which there is a clear proof deriving from man’s reasoning – such as arithmetic, geometry, and astronomy
A thing that a man perceives through one of the five senses – such as when he knows with certainty that this is red and this is black and the like through the sight of his eye; or as when he tastes that this is bitter and this is sweet; or was when he feels that this is hot and this is cold; or as when he hears that this sound is clear and this sound is indistinct; or as when he smells that this is a pleasing smell and this is a displeasing smell and the like
A thing that a man receives from the prophets or from the righteous
Meir ben Baruch of Rothenberg,1220-1293 (Maharam miRotenberg)
Terrible time – terrible insecurity that faced the Jews of France and Germany
Intended to immigrate to Palestine
He was recognized in Lumbarg by a converted Jew and informed the authorities and imprisoned
Jews wanted to redeem him
He refused to be redeemed so that this won’t become a policy of imprisonment and redemption
When he died, his body was ransomed by a wealthy Jew and buried next to this wealthy Jew
The Maharam is important not only as a posek and latter ba’alei tosfos, he was also the teacher of the Rosh (Rabbeinu Asher) and he was able to escape to Toledo, Spain
1306: King Philip the Fair of France issued an edict on June 21- executed July 22, the 10 of Av
Expelled about 100,000 Jews
1315: Louis X recalled the Jews
All the unsold property, synagogues and burial places were restored to them
They were promised that if the permission to stay will be rescinded, they will have at least one year notice
Philip the Tall, 1316-1322, continued the policy
1320: there were a band of shepherds and peasants who overran southern France
Jews were attacked and killed in southern France and in northern Spain
The population sided with them
More than 120 Jews communities were destroyed
1321: it was believed that the Lepers poisoned the wells
After being tortured, the Lepers said the Jews did it
Jews were condemned to a heavy fine
160 Jews in one town were buried alive
In Paris, the “guilty” Jews were put to death and others were exiled
The king finally admitted that the Jews were innocent, but meanwhile 5000 Jews lost the lives and the fines were not returned
1322: Charles IV expelled the Jews with no forewarning.
The Jews were brought back in 1359 for a period of 20 years
The conditions were very precarious
1368: the Jews were able to avert another banishment
Charles V kept to the promise for a fee
Revolts because of the high taxes
Continued rise of national spirit
Led to riots against the Jews
September 17, 1394, coinciding with Yom Kippur, all Jews must leave by ?
In Lyons, they remained for another 25 years
Jews were never expelled from the lands subject to the papal authority
1298: Rindfleisch, a nobleman, with his followers went from town to town spreading terror and slaughter
Jews died heroically for their faith, but many were baptized
The community at Wurtzburg was exterminated
The Jews in Nuremberg tried to find refuge in a castle but were found and murdered
Mordechai ben Hillel, talmudist, killed
In Bavaria, only two communities escaped
140 communities were wiped out
Tens of thousands of Jews were slain during this time period
1336-1338: two noblemen called the Arnleder also led fearful persecutions against the Jews
1348-1349: The Black Death/The Bubonic Plague
Spread all over Europe
Jews were accused of plotting to poison the wells and the rivers
The wealth of the Jews was a major factor in all this
The ingredients of poison: spiders, lizards, frogs, human flesh, hearts of Christians mixed with the dough of the sacred hosts
There were massacres that began in Northern Spain went all the way to Bavaria, Switzerland, the Rhine, Berlin
Ghettos were created throughout Europe for the Jews
In Strasburg, brought 1800 people to a cemetery and burned them alive
Debts to Jews were cancelled
They carried out persecutions against Jews very systematically by the order of the city councils
During this time period, 60 large and 150 small communities were destroyed
There were mob attacks against Jews, debts remitted
1389 in Prague on Easter Sunday, Jewish children were playing with sand and sprinkled the Host while walking through the Jewish quarter, forced baptism, hundreds killed, many committed suicide, many imprisoned, fined
3000 were put to death
Tomb stones were broken
The dead were exhumed from the ground
The king of Bohemia confiscated the property of those who were killed
Jews who were imprisoned were released upon the payment of heavy fines
1394: Peter (Pesach originally) denounced the prayer of Aleinu
Yom Tov Litman from Muhlhausen, versed in Talmud, Latin, Karaitic literature, countered Peter’s arguments (Sefer Nitzachon); notwithstanding, that 77 Jews were killed
Emperoro Sigisumund, 1410-1437, extorted ⅓-½ of the Jewish community’s wealth
Demanded 13000 gulden; 9 families were required to contribute 5000 gulden
1419-1436: Husite Wars
Along with the heretics, the Dominicans were instructed to instigate the Catholics against the Jews
In Austria, Jews were accused of making common cause with the Husites (heretics in the eyes of the Catholics)
Jews were accused of buying the wafer (used in the church service) from the sexton’s wife
An appeal to the Pope also brought forth an instruction to prohibit baptism for those that are under 12 years of age
Those who survived the Inquisition in the Vienna area were burned
Jews were banished from Cologne, not allowed to settle in Austria, and in Boslow (app. 1431) reiterated the anti-Jewish regulations and added the following
Jews were not admitted to university degree programs
Baptized Jews must remain in their faith, not allowed to revert back
John Capistrano, known as the scourge of the Jews, a Franciscan preacher
Despite all this persecution, the was a Jewish culture was thriving
Some of the great rabbanim of the time:
Maharil, 1427, Mayence, codified many of the Ashkenazik minhagim
Israel Isserlein, died 1460, Neusdadt, authored one of the famous works which served as the basis for many of the halachos of the Shulchan Aruch called the Trumas Hadeshen
The Jews of Provence:
Jews shared generally in the peaceful life in Provence
There was prosperity in the southeastern section of France
Bear in mind
The counts were only nominally dependent on the distant French king
The jurisdiction was divided between the count and the bishop and they both competed (befriend the Jews) for the revenue of the Jewish community
Jews had their own councils in their cities (they were still subject to the city council)
Jews owned land, had extensive vineyards, imported spices, engaged commission business, and at a later date engaged in money lending
In Marseilles, Jews had equal status with Christians; they were admitted to all the professions and trades.
In Montpellier, some of the ablest teachers at the medical school were Jews
The cultural dimension:
1100-1394: Provence was a cultural bridge between Spain and France
The scholars of Provence were both familiar with Spanish and French traditions
They were the carriers of Arabic culture through translations from Arabic to Hebrew
Much of the Spanish traditions were composed in Arabic (ex Moreh Nevuchim) also a lot of the non-Jewish literature was translated by the Provence chachamim
In Talmudic studies, the Provence scholars were intermediaries between the Spanish and Tosafos traditions
Avraham ben Isaac of Narbonne, died 1178, authored a work called Sefer Ha’eshkol, a codification of Halacha
Avraham ben David of Posquieres, died 1198, the famous Ra’avad, wrote his annotations into the Yad Chazaka, Mishna Torah
One of the fathers of Kabbala in that area
Wrote the pairush on the Talmud
Classical critic in the mishna torah
Chayo HaLevi of Gerona who later lived in the city of Lunel, famous for his work on the Rif (Rav Alfis), known as the Ba’al Hamaor, the name of his work: Hamaor – incorporates into his commentary the French traditions and frequently differs with the conclusions of the Rif.
The one who takes the side of the Rif is Nachmonides (Moshe ben Nachman) – the Ramban.
Meshulam ben Yaakov, died 1170, wealthy, erudite in Talmudic learning, patron of culture, encouraged prominent scholars to come to Lunel to establish it as a center of Talmudic study
Yehuda ben Shaul ibn Tibbon, fugitive from the Almohade fanaticism in Granada, died 1190, physician, known as the father of translators from Arabic to Hebrew.
Some of his translations include the Rabbeinu Bachya, Ibn Gabirol’s work, Ibn Janach, Sa’adya Gaon and others.
His son was Shmuel ben Yehuda ibn Tibbon, died 1230
Translated Aristotle, Averroes (the Rambam of the Arab world)
Corresponded with the Rambam
Translated the Moreh Nevuchim, finished the Moreh Nevuchim 14 days before the Rambam passed away.
The ibn Tibbon’s translations enriched the Hebrew language; a lot of their philosophic terms were not part of the Hebrew language. Their style became the model of scientific Hebrew during the middle ages.
Some scholars scented a problem with the rationalism of the Mishna Torah.
Problems that come about when you are open to the cultural world:
There were Jews who began to allegorize, and philosophize the Halacha and begin to say the whole thing is an allegory.
Solomon ben Avrohom of Gerona and David ben Saul turned to the northern French scholars for support, issuing a ban (cheirem) against the Moreh Nevuchim and the philosophic portions of the mishna torah.
Then a counter ban was issued against the cheirem. Very heated conflagration within the Jewish community.
Dovid Kimchi (Radak) fought very strenuously in support of the Ramban
Kimchis originated in Spain and moved to Narbonne in the Provence area; contemporaries of Avraham ibn Ezra and the Rabbeinu Tam
The father died in 1170
He and his sons wrote grammars, translations from Arabic
The eldest son, Moshe, died around the year 1190
Wrote commentaries on Tanach and elementary grammars
Son, Dovid (Radak), wrote a masterly Hebrew grammar
Radak’s commentary on Tanach became popular and indirectly influenced the Anglican version of King James Bible
Pope Gregory IX was intent on destroying the Alvigensian heresy (heresy of the Christians against the Catholic church) in France
1233: Instructed the Dominican order to ferret out every vestige of heresy
Solomon Montpellier denounced the writing of the Rambam to the Dominicans
A bonfire was made of them in the city of Paris
When the French scholars saw this, they withdrew their signature of the chairem against the Rambam because they were revolted by what took place
Bloody battle led to the destruction of Provence and it was annexed to France in 1229
The council of Bezier, 1246, ratified the usual canonical laws against Jews
Prohibited Christians in engaging Jewish physicians
The liberal and orthodox Jews in the areas where it was still tolerable to the Jews, the orthodox were shocked at the liberals who interpreted the Bible to be simply allegorical.
Aba Mari ben Moshe of Lunel was a strong opponent to the Rambam’s writings
Others defended the Rambam.
Menachem ben Shlomo Hameiri (Me’eri) of Perpignan took an intermediate approach
Shlomo ibn Adret (Rashba) issued a chairem prohibiting the study of sciences except medicine if one is under the age of 13 in 1305
The liberals countered with a ban against the charem.
<missing notes from 22 April>
1233: when Rambam's writings burned, the Inquisition was introduced in Aragon
Hebrew was taught in the seminaries to refute the Jews
Pablo Christiani, baptized Jew
Disciple of Raymond (the head of the Inquisition in Aragon)
Failed in getting many Jews to convert
Persuaded King James to command Nachmanides, who already was an older man to take part in a debate in the city of Barcelona.
Ramban vs. Christiani Debate
The Ramban demanded complete freedom of speech
Lasted four days in 1263
The Jews were apprehensive regardless of who would win
After a recess of several days the king ordered a resumption of the debate
The Ramban held his own
The king then dismissed the Ramban with a gift
Christiani received permission to continue to debate around the kingdom
As Christiani saw that he was unsuccessful in debating the Jews, he tried to get rid of the Talmud to Pope Clemens IV
A commission of censors was appointed to remove passages which appeared objectionable to the Christian religion
The Dominican, Raymond Martini, who was widely read in Jewish literature, wrote polemics (arguments) against Judaism and declared that the Talmud statements confirmed Christian truth
The bishop of Gerona requested of the Ramban to record the proceedings of the debate
The Dominicans were angry about that
The king condemned the Ramban to two years exile and the book was to be burned
Ramban left Spain and arrived in Israel in 1267, leaving his family
Ramban tried to restore the meager Jewish community in Israel and convert a residence into a synagogue in Jerusalem
Ramban also established a school for Talmudical studies, which attracted students even from Babylonia
Ramban died in 1270 and was buried in Haifa beside R' Yechiel of Paris, a Ba'al Tosafos who had been forced to debate the Christians
R' Shlomo ben Avraham Ibn Adret (Rashba) of Barcelona, 1235-1310, was a student of Rabbeinu Yonah and RaMBaN
One of the most popular Ba'alei Tosafos
Prolific responder of tshuvos, not only halachic isssues, but aggadic as well; promulgated ban of studies of science until 30
Defended Judaism against Christians and Moslems
Avraham ben Shmuel Abulafia, 1240-1292, strange individual, visionary
Studied kabbalah, engaged in the alphabet
Sought audience with Pope Nicholas III
He wanted to convert the Pope but the Pope died
Had prophetic visions
Rashba condemned Abulafia's visions and messianic aspirations
Left a number of kabbalistic works
Students also wrote books
R' Moshe ben Shem Tov de Leon, 1250-1305, published the Zohar, claimed that it was attributed to R' Simon ben Yochai
The Zohar became the "Bible" of kabbalah, even though there had been other kabbalistic works
Asher ben Yechiel, died in 1338
Student of the Maharam of Rotenberg
Important regarding mesorah
Exiled from Germany, went to Toledo
Known as Rosh
His role was writing psak halacha, according to the gemarra
His son, Yaakov ben Asher (Ba’al Haturim), was a ba'al tosafos, died in 1340
Ba'al Haturim’s work serves a as a model for the Shulchan Aruch, more sephardic
In the latter part of the 13th century and in the beginning of the 1300s in Castille, difficult times set in, Christian church gained power, restrictions increased, Jews forbidden to use Christian names, Church didn't want the Jews to mingle
Abner of Burgos, apostate, issued communications justifying it, others as well
1300s-1400s, more and more Jews assimilating
Marrano community developing
One of the reasons for the Inquisition was for Marranos - not for the regular Jews
1492-100,000 Jews left Spain
Inquisition brought in, even in Mexico eventually
Columbus may have been a Marrano, but doubtful; the first to step onto land may have been
Anooseem means “compelled” in Hebrew
Rosh modeled himself after the Rif (who wrote his piskei halachos according to the order of the gemara)
The rosh did the same thing (to trace the psak halacha all the way back to the gemara)
Son named Yaakov ben Asher who died in 1340 and was known as the Ba’al Haturim
Work serves as the model for the Shulchan Aruch.
Divided his code into four basic sections:
Orech Chayim – way of life – daily requirement
Yoreh De’ah – Kashrut, Nidah, Ribbis, Aveilus
Even Ha’ezer – Domestic Law (Yichus, Kiddushin, Gittin)
Choshen Mishpat – Civil (Criminal) Law
Settled in the city of Toledo (which was Christian)
He didn’t ignore the Sephardim
Beis Yosef written by Yosef Karo
Encyclopedic commentary – quotes the gemara and rishonim and then achronim and concludes with the practical halacha
The Shulchan Aruch he composed is based on his Beis Yosef
Similar to the structure of the Tur
As opposed to the Rambam, only wrote practical Halacha
Bayis Chodos (Bach) written by Yoel Syrkes
William the Conqueror, 1066-1087, brought the body of Jews to England
Henry the First, 1100-1136, granted the Jews a charter
Jews may move freely in the country without paying tolls
May buy whatever was offered them (right to buy)
May receive pledges and loans and may sell them if they are not paid up yet
May be tried by their own peers and may swear on Torah scrolls
Stephen, 1135-1154, civil strife and as a result it disturbed the Jewish community as well
Ritual murder allegation: a child became a martyred saint
The sheriff of Norwood protected the Jews
Stephen also protected the Jews
Henry II, 1154-1189
The Jews enjoyed favorable conditions
Prevented from joining guilds
Jews were active in money lending
But, the king would interrupt occasionally, and would cancel the debts of the Christians
This king acquired power from the barons. Several Jews obtained opulence
However, Jews were taxed very heavily
Yaakov of Orleans, ba’alei tosfos, student of Rabbeinu Tam, lived in London
Richard I, 1189-1199
Jewish representatives were forbidden from attending his coronation
Jews humiliated
False rumors that the king ordered the destruction of the Jewish community
Rampage and killing lasted for 24 hours
When the king crossed the channel to join Philip Augustus of France, riots broke out in 1180
1180 riots
Massacre broke out at York
Houses burned and wealth looted
Jews had to find security and protection in the royal palace
Jews were besieged by mobs
Jews committed suicide in order to escape baptism or death by torture
Many Jews were killed: >500
When Richard returned from prison, which the Jews contributed to the ransom, he taxed the Jews, seized women and men, and gouged out eyes as punishment
1218: Henry III enforced the wearing of a badge
1222: Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton
Jews not allowed to have Christian slaves
No building new synagogues
No socializing with Christians
Prohibited from leaving the country
1253: new measures introduced against the Jews
Worship is to be carried out in a low or inaudible sound
May not employ Christian nurses or domestics
May not eat or buy meat during Lent
One may not prevent a Jew from baptizing
Special houses for converts were established
As a sample of their attitude against Jews, the Jews of the town of Lincoln were forced to atone for the murder of a Christian boy
91 sent to the tower
80 were executed
The rest were sent to prison
Any reason for persecution was done
1262-1266: civil war in England and the Jews of London suffered greatly
1275: statute of Judaism
Prohibited Jews from engaging in usury
1279: capital punishment for Jewish blasphemy against the religion
1280: Jews were beginning to be forced to hear Dominican sermons
1281: Additional enactments
Not allowed to hold any kind of public office
Doors and windows are to be shut on Good Friday
Jews had to pay the church tithes
1290: order issued for Jews to be expelled from England
Permitted to take their movables
King took over their estates
16,000 Jews left
1/10 to Flanders, Belgium
Rest to France
Some robbed by the captains of the ships
Some drowned
Spain declined – a lot of assimilation
They had the Inquisition
For those people who practiced Judaism secretly
1492 on Tish’a B’av: tens of thousands of Jews left
Yitzchak Abarbanel left with the people and went to Italy
Others went to Turkey