2/4/11
Why did the Crusades have a profound effect on the Jewish relations with their Christian neighbors?
v First Crusade
¨ Pope Urban II called for an armed pilgrimage in 1095
Ø Causes
Seljuk Turks (unlike the Arabs who previously ruled Israel) interfered with Christian pilgrims and Italian merchants trying to come to the area
Eastern Roman Emperor asked for help against the Turks
Pope hoped for political gains and possible to reunite the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches
There was a rumor that Jesus was going to come back (the 2nd coming) and they wanted to ‘get ready’ by having the Christians ruling Jerusalem
¨ Who went?
Ø 2nd and 3rd sons of nobles who do not inherit land
Ø Peasants
Ø Sinners4 who wanted an indulgence (Pope gave indulgences to all people who went on the crusades)
¨ Jews’ Reaction— Uh oh…
Ø Godfrey of Bouillon talked of avenging the blood of Jesus (told people to kill Jews) à Jews paid Emperor Henry IV 500 pieces of silver to convince Godfrey to leave the Jews alone, but this was too late because many people have the idea to kill Jews
Ø Problem most serious along the Rhine
Count Emicho of Leiningen led the attacks on the Jews
Speyer
¶ Bishop Johann of Speyer
Ø 1085 (10 years before the Crusades) there were no Jews living in Speyer. The Bishop invited Jews to settle in the town to build up Speyer and boost its economy. The Jews were nervous that he would want to convert them, but the bishop reassured them that everything would be good for them
Ø Now in 1096 the Jews went to see the bishop with a bribe seeking protection. Bishop was furious that the Jews didn’t believe he would keep his promise of protection. He told them to keep their money, and when the crusaders come, they should go to his palace and he would protect them.
Ø Only 9-11 Jews died in this town’s massacre, and those were Jews who did not make it to the palace in time
Ø Bishop was still very upset, so he hunted down those crusaders who committed murder in his town and punished them
Worms
¶ Despite promises of protection, nearly all of the 800 Jews were killed
Mainz
¶ Basically same as Worms- bishop promised to protect the Jews and took a bribe, but he told them that he promised protection, not risking his life for them
¶ Kalonymus ben Meshullam
Ø Told the Jews to trust HaShem
Ø Led Jews in fasting and physical resistance (doesn’t work)
Cologne, Prague, etc, all along the route
¨ Jerusalem 1099 Muslim armies (helped by Jews) fall to the crusaders
Ø Jews and Muslims are massacred
Ø Some are sold as slaves (pidyon shevuyim- buying Jewish captives- helps J)
Ø One of the few times that no Jews live in Jerusalem, although Jewish communities remain in the Galil
¨ Results
Ø For this crusade only, Jews who were forcibly baptized were allowed to recant and rejoin the Jewish community
Ø Estimated 3-10,000 Jews were killed, including major Torah scholars in centers of Jewish life
Ø Stirred up anti-Jewish teachings and attitudes
Ø Many Jews chose martyrdom rather than conversion
v Second Crusade
¨ Muslims continued to attack the crusader kingdoms and eventually retook some of the land (County of Edessa taken by Zengi of Mosul) à 2nd crusade 1146
¨ Problem
Ø This crusade has 2 kings part of it- Louis II of 7th and Conrad of HRE. These 2 rulers were the leaders of the crusade, but failed to control the radical monks (Radulf, below)
¨ New anti-Jewish leaders stirred up the mobs
Ø Radulf stirred up the mobs against the Jews
Attacks on Rabbenu Tam and other Jews
¨ Bernard of Clairvaux is the “good guy”
Ø He said Jews should not be forcibly converted or harmed
¨ Problems for the Middle East
Ø Damascus had a treaty with the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
Ø Attack on Damascus à enemy instead of friendly state + lost badly
Ø Got the Muslims angry at Christians for breaking the treaty
¨ 3 major time frames
Ø 1099-1146 Muslims were no united; Christians were united
Ø 1146-1160s Christians and Muslims were sometimes united and sometimes not united
Ø 1160s-1187 Muslims united; Christians were not united
Ø Many Muslims today call for unity based on this example of how unity led to victory
2/10/11
v Third Crusade
¨ Cause
Ø Saladin had become ruler of Egypt. He was a Kurd (branch of Muslims). He united Egypt and Syria by revolting against his overlord (son of Zengi of Mosul)
Egypt and Syria united = bad news for anyone in Israel
Ø Crusaders were fighting over who will rule. Guy of Lusignan was ruling Jerusalem. His brother in law was head of the knights Templar- supposedly monks who did not behave like monks with the ladies ;-), they were wild and hard to control, and were a semi-independent unit in Israel. They attacked a caravan to Mecca under a flag of truce, and they abused Saladin’s sister who was in the caravan. Saladin was angry!
¨ Saladin invaded the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem
Ø Battle of Hittin
Generally the more heavily armed Christians are going to win in a close contact, so the Muslims needed to attack from a distance. They fired an arrow into the crusader’s horse and then fired arrows to sut down the crusaders from the distance.
Muslims won by controlling the water hole at the battle site
Ø Saladin treated the captive King of Jerusalem as a guest (which means Saladin will protect him, according to Muslim custom). The king shared his food with the brother in law. Saladin ordered the interpreter to explain to the king that Saladin gave you food, not the brother in law. Later, Saladin executed only the Templars. Other prisoncers were redeemed or free without payment.
v Now that the city of Jerusalem is in Saladin’s hand à 3rd crusade
¨ Richard the Lion Hearted, Philip Augustus, and Frederick Barbarossa
¨ à Worst attacks on Jews in England
Ø Massacres of Jews in Lincoln, Stamford, Norwich, and York
York—Clifford’s tower massacre. 150 Jews committed suicide rather than convert to Christianity. Some 7 survivors were willing to convert, but they were killed by the Christians who did not want to pay back owed money to them
¨ Frederick Barbarossa was on his way to Jerusalem, but he drowned. They wanted to preserve his body and bury it in Jesus
v There were other crusades, but they were all unsuccessful. After 200 years, there were no Christian crusader states left in the Middle East.
2/11/11
What were the effects of the crusades?
v On Muslims
¨ They became convinced that ultimately, if they keep fighting, they will destroy any invader (and they apply this to Israel today à willingness to have temporary truces, not permanent peace)
v On Christians
¨ Change in attitude towards the Jews
Ø Lies spread by the crusaders had a long term effect on the relationship between Jews and Christians (à hatred of Jews)
Ø Papal Bull Sicut Judeis
Jews must be protected,
Not given any new rights
No loss of old rights (you could still be a Jew and observe Judaism)
Ø Blood libel
False accusation that Jews kill Christian children and use their blood for religious purposes (matzo, wine)
Updated version: Muslims now say that Jews kill Muslim teenagers and use their blood for humantashen
Started during the crusades in England and spread
Ø Fourth Lateran Council à Jew badges so people fear Jews
2/14/11
v On Jews
¨ Lasting distrust of Christians
¨ Admiration for martyrs and inspiration from them
¨ Decline in Jewish merchants
¨ Jews don’t feel as secure as they used to
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