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Bridgewater Review

Volume 2 | Issue 1 Article 9

Oct-1983 Research Note: and Persecution: The Jewish Community of Medieval Donald L. Keay Bridgewater State College

Recommended Citation Keay, Donald L. (1983). Research Note: Toleration and Persecution: The eJ wish Community of Medieval Regensburg. Bridgewater Review, 2(1), 23-26. Available at: http://vc.bridgew.edu/br_rev/vol2/iss1/9

This item is available as part of Virtual Commons, the open-access institutional repository of Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts. RESEARCH NOTE

Toleration and Persecution The Jewish Community of Medieval Regensburg

by Donald L. Keay Professor of History Stone Bridge 0/ Regensburg Circa 1300 t is often assumed that European fired by economic issues. Christian became convenient scapegoats for the of the were a small minor­ merchants and bankers began to take over financial difficulties plaguing the city. In 1519 I ity constantly harassed and persecuted international markets and the Jews were after a long period of oppression and by a bigoted Christian population gradually reduced to pawn broking, a violence, they were expelled from the city; determined to annihilate them. Had such a business which led to resentment and their homes and property were destroyed, situation existed, the Christians surely hatred, especially among the lower classes and their wealth was confiscated. would have succeeded. A truer picture, who believed the Jews were taking The story of the Jews of medieval however, is one of long periods of peaceand advantage of their financial plight by Regensburg starts in the late eleventh prosperity as Jews lived side by side with exacting exorbitant rates of interest. Since century. In 1096 the first blow was struck their Christian neighbors, both benefitting the economic issues alone were not when the religious hatred against the from social and economic relations. sufficient justification for the destruction of Moslem Turks was diverted to the Jewish It is true that Jews suffered from various Jewish communities,' other charges were Infidel, who lived within the Christian restrictions and restraints. They could not often raised, as Jews were accused of community itself. Under the leadership of hold land under feudal tenure since mutual various types of despicable and anti­ Counts Emicho and Emmerich, religious obligations and responsibilities were based Christian activities such as stealing and fanatics went from city to city where, on sacred Christian vows and ceremonies. desecrating the sacred host, poisoning reinforced by local mobs, they killed and But they could and did own property within water supplies, and engaging in human looted the Jews whose only hope of escape the medieval cities both on an individual and sacrifice through the ritualistic slaughter of was to receive . In Worms almost collective basis. Their urban communities Christian children. the entire community was slaughtered, as became centers for the production of trade Yet even during the most violent of the the Jews preferred death rather than goods by skilled artisans and craftsmen and anti-Semitic attacks there were clerics, renunciation of their faith. In the at the same time provided links in the great nobles, and burghers who attempted to tried to protect the Jews by giving trading routes which extended into the protect Jews from violence and destruction. them sanctuary in his palace, but eventually heart of Varangian Russia, the marts of the Their motivations varied from economic he surrendered to the demands of the mobs Eastern Mediterranean world, and the self-interest to Christian charity and human and shared in the plunder. Archbishop bazaars of Bagdad. The Jews provided the decency. In this respect a study of the Herman III of dispersed the Jews means by which luxury goods were Jewish community of Regensburg, into neighboring villages to protect them, transported from the East to fulfill the needs , is quite revealing. For two and a but the effort was in vain as they were and desires of European and the half centuries the leading citizens and hunted down and massacred by Emicho's upper echelons of the Christian hierarchy. politicians persisted in their conviction that Crusaders and local peasants. Emicho and They also served as bankers to kings, it was the duty of government to protect all his cutthroats arrived near Regensburg in popes, dukes, and , providing them of its people, including Jews, from physical early June where, supported by clerics and with the necessary funds to wage wars or persecution and financial oppression. townspeople, they rounded up the entire carryon extensive building programs. Although not always successful in carrying Jewish population, herded them into the Although anti-Semitic attitudes often out its policy, the city government at least , and performed a mass baptism appear in works of theologians and mitigated the impact of violence, whether with a wave of the hand. At the same time a scholars, widespread antagonism and the threats came from the Dukes of , mob inside the city looted and ravaged the prejudice were not whipped up among the roving gangs of religious fanatics, or the synagogue. irate burghers themselves. The Jews as a masses until the calling of the When King Henry IV learned of the in 1095 and the accompanying religious group also benefitted from imperial and royal charters and from the generally benign atrocities, he was outraged and promptly frenzy which spread throughout Western ordered that all forced be Europe. The result of this outbreak of and tolerant attitudes of the bishops of Regensburg. considered null and void and gave special fanaticism was wide-scale murder and permission for the Jews in Regensburg to destruction inflicted upon Jewish rebuild their synagogue. Thus the communities, particularly in France and he results was that for the most part traditional way of life was restored, but the Germany. T the Jews of Regensburg lived secure­ events of 1096 boded ill for the future. The From that time on sporadic outbursts ly and prosperously until the second half of persecutions had deepened the sense of against the Jews took place, sometimes the fourteenth century brought a serious isolation and widened the cultural chasm related to religious bigotry, but increasingly decline in trade and industry. TheJews then between Christians and Jews. The minds of

23 the common people were so poisoned that !though rigorously enforced in some Rabbi Hayyim protested that charters and they believed the killing of the Infidel was parts of Europe, the edicts were vir­ customary practices made such collections pleasing to God. This belief was kept alive tually ignored in Regensburg despite strong illegal, but principle had to be surrendered generation after generation by clergymen efforts to bring compliance. In 1267 a papal to expedience since it was obvious that who, because of their sincere but narrow­ legate, Cardinal Guido, presided over a attempts to insist on rights would bring open minded religious zeal, often stirred up riots synod of prelates in at which edicts resentment and retaliation from the by city mobs. were issued to all clerics to gain obedience townspeople. It was deemed more practical Despite the official policy of protection by to canonical decrees. In Regensburg a fiery, to pay what was considered an unjustified emperors and the city government, steps popular preacher named Berthold and illegal tax out of fear rather than face were taken during the twelfth century to promoted the cause as he thundered from potential consequences. protect the Jews of Regensburg from violent the pulpit denouncing sinners, heretics, and attacks. The Judenstadt, orJewish quarter, especially the Infidel, stirring up hostile Even though the new tax assessment was was enclosed by fortified walls and towers feelings among the thousands who heard his seen as another attack on the Jewish with gates which were closed every evening eloquent sermons. In 1281 Emperor community, the city government of and reopened each morning by a city offi­ Rudolph while in the city issued directives to Regensburg was prepared to take strong cial. Within the walls were private homes, Jews within the , ordering them to measures to protect the Jews from shops and th~ va~ious facilities needed to obey the bishop in regard to canonical exploitation by outside authorities. In 1297 maintain the traditional way of life. The restrictions on their behavior and activities. Emperor Adolph authorized Duke Otto of synagogue was the center of the public and Despite papal agents, church synods, Bavaria to collect a sum of 200 Pfund from private life, serving as a house of worship imperial edicts, and the voice of Berthold, the Jewish community. When ducal agents and prayer, a school, and a meeting place to friendly relations between Christians and arrived to collect the funds, the council hold elections, conduct judicial Jews continued in Regensburg as the two refused to grant permission and rioting proceedings, and resolve matters of communities lived and worked together. mobs forced the agents to leave. Otto communal concern. The community also The local government refused to enforce placed a siege around Regensburg, but

Danube River

I. Synagogue 2. Cathedral 3. To"'" Hall 4. S. Emmeran Monas/ary

100 200 300 400M

had a ritual bath, a hospital and hospice, and despite hunger and privation the city fought an almshouse. When the jewish quarter on for several weeks. Finally Bishop was razed in 1519 an extensive network of Conrad, at the request of the council, sub-cellars and underground passages was REGENSBURG served as mediator and a compromise was discovered. Built as places of refuge in an reached. The Jews were required to pay the emergency, they were seized upon by Ca. 1300 assessment but were relieved of the regular Christians as evidence of those secret L. ~------...J annual imperial tax for the ensuing three criminal activities of which the Jews had the directives or to punish violations. years. The defense rendered the Jews in this often been accused. In 1293, however, a cotlflict broke out instance was not entirely altruistic, since between the Jewish community and the city many wealthy burghers were convinced government over the issue of municipal that a successful attack against the rights of ocial relationships between Chris­ taxation. The council levied new one group of citizens could undermine the S tians and Jews were undermined by assessments to defray the costs of rights of all: extortion of money from the the directives issued by the Fourth Lateran strengthening walls and fortifications. Both Jews could easily be extended to Christians Council in 1215. Jews were required to wear clerics and Jews protested, insisting the as well. defenses were secure enough and the real identifying symbols (i.e., the yellow badge). On three important occasions within the Their social intercourse with Christians was purpose was to make payment of city taxes span of the next fifty years the very restricted, and they were required to remain obligatory for those who had traditionally existence of the Jewish community was within their homes hidden from sight during been exempt. The prelates won their case severely threatened. In 1298 a widespread sacred days in the Christian calendar, by appealing to higher authority within the persecution began in Roettingen where especially Holy Week. church, but the Jews had no such recourse. accusations of desecration of the

24 consecrated host were made. A Christian A nti-Semetic riots broke out during rederick continued his protection of fanatic known as Rindfleisch gathered a n the Hussite War and also following the F the Jews when rumors spread mob of cutthroats, burned the Jews of the fall of Constantinople in 1453, as Jews were concerning another alleged child murder in town, and, claiming to have a divine mission accused of secretly conspiring with and Baden and accusations of desecration of the to root out the "accursed race," journeyed aiding the heretics and Moslems. The host in . Several Jewsof Regensburg from city to city murdering and pillaging the Church decrees in regard to Jews were were charged with complicity but Frederick Jews. In 1336 a similar movement was enforced and stringent municipal interceded and ordered that they be neither instigated by an innkeeper named Johann ordinances further eroded their rights. tortured nor put to death, but should be Zimerli. The leaders called themselves the Merchants and businessmen found access treated as other prisoners. After two years Armleder because of the leather bands to markets severely limited as boycotts of protracted negotiations, the release of the worn on their arms, and the followers were were placed on Jewish goods, and Christian accused was arranged, but only on known as the Judenschlaeger. artisans refused to sell their wares to non­ condition that they make substantial The most serious crisis came during the Christian customers. Virtually all social payments to the city and sign an oath not to period when the Great Plague ravaged relations between Christians andJews were seek revenge. prohibited, especially the entertainment of Europe (1348-50). Believing that the The policy of protecting the Jews from pestilence was a judgement from God on a each other in private homes or public eating places. The gates of the Judenstadt were illegal or unjust violence or persecution was sinful world, fanatics saw in the Jews a continued by Frederick's son andsuccessor convenient scapegoat and accused them of regularly locked on Christian Holy Days and any Jews who tried to leave the city were Maximilian. But preachers and scholars heinous crimes, particularly the poisoning of continued to revile the Jews and spread wells and other water supplies. But on each seized and returned so they could be forced to continue paying their taxes. At one point anti-Semitic propaganda as the occasion when danger threatened the Jews development of Gutenberg's printing press of Regensburg, the city council stood firm Duke Louis of Bavaria joined with Bishop Henry IV in an effort to convert the Jews. A facilitated the dissemination of such and issued decrees declaring its intention of material among the literate population, protecting its citizens from harm as a matter rabble-rousing Dominican Friar, Peter Schwartz, himself a convert, gave lectures while vile drawings and caricatures of Jews of honor. The prompt action was effective were spread among the uneducated each time, even though segments of the to prominent Jews who were forced to attend, pointing out "errors" in their masses. The old accusations were local population were in sympathy with the constantly reiterated but more emphasis anti-Semitic movements and neighboring and teachings. The efforts were in vain and Christian leaders became was placed on economic issues. The Jews communities did suffer violence and were accused of living in idleness, sloth, and persecution. convinced that the Jews were too stubborn to listen to reason and so were beyond lust supported by ill-gotten gains extorted uring the second half of the fourteenth redemption and must bear the from poor Christians. Such slander and Dcentury, the status of the Jews deteri­ consequences of their own obstinacy. malice brought physical attacks against the orated as the economy of the city went into Jews as both men and women suffered serious decline. Emperor Charles IV had violence and abuse in public places. Stories deliberately diverted the international trade of murder, robbery, stonings and other routes to his city of and the loss of .. . accusing them of outrages were reported in city records but it commercial activity caused the migration of appears that little was done to protect the merchants and artisans to more prosperous usury, of reviling victims or punish the guilty. A popular anti­ cities and towns. Although the Jews were Semitic preacher, Dompreger Balthasar not to blame for the declining trade and Mary and of mur­ Hubmaier arrived in Regensburg in 1595 industrial production, they were accused of dering Christ. and the young firebrand bitterly denounced profiteering from financial hardships as the Jews from his pulpit, accusing them of more and more people found it necessary to usury, of reviling Mary, and of murdering borrow money and pawn personal Christ. He insisted that Christians must be possessions to money lenders who were In 1473 another converted Jew named freed from the curse of the Infidel and accused of charging usurious rates of Hans Vogol accused Rabbi of exhorted the people to be ready to take interest. purchasing and then slaughtering a seven­ action and expel them from the city when As part of his effort to gain the support of year-old Christian in ritual sacrifice. Bishop the opportunity presented itself. Regensburg in a struggle with the princes of Henry was convinced, but members of the The opportunity did come with the death the Empire, Emperor Wenzel issued an city council were not and, under pressure, of Emperor Maximilian in 1519. The city imperial document dated September 16, Vogol finally admitted he had lied. The government negotiated with prominent 1390, releasing the members of the city seventy-year-old rabbi was released on clerics and after a staged anti-Semitic council and the citizens from all debts owed condition that he sign a pledge not to demonstration a delegation of officials to the Jews and directing the latter to attempt retaliation or seek revenge. The ordered the Jews to leave the city. The surrender all promissory notes, pledges, issue of ritual murder was raised again two council claimed it could no longer guarantee and pawned objects without compensation. years later in Trent. The body of a three­ the protection of their persons or property, The proclamation brought great jubiliation year-old Christian boy was washed ashore so to keep the peace and prevent popular among the lower classes and immediate near the home of a Jew who, under torture, insurrection they must go. The women and steps were taken to enforce the terms. confessed and implicated other members of children left, quickly followed by the men a Some Jews complied and turned over his community. The testimony of yet few days later. Mobs swarmed through the papers and articles; others secreted assets another convert named Wolfgang provided Judenstadt and soon the gates, walls, and fled from the city. The burghers initiated evidence against members of the houses, and synagogue lay in ruins. The a house to house search within the Jewish Regensburg community. Seventeen men Jewish cemetery was desecrated and many quarter, seizing property and imprisoning were tortured until they confessed. After a of the inscribed stoneswere used as building Jews who attempted resistance. Members short trial they were imprisoned and their material. A short time later a Christian of the council were troubled, since some still property confiscated and for several Church, the Mariankape/le, was erected on believed that providing security for the Jews months the rest of the community was the site formerly occupied by the and their property was in the best interest barricaded within their quarter. An appeal synagogue. The bones of a dead child of the city. But they too were blinded by the was sent to Emperor Frederick III who supposedly found in the Jewish quarter prospect of immediate relief from debts, finally forced the release of the prisoners, were placed in the church as a constant and, rationalizing that any preventive but only after placing the city under the ban remind~r of the "crime and outrageS' of the measures would have little or no effect, of the Empire and threatening to revoke the Jews. joined in the general spoliation. municipal charter. . .. continued next page

25 Regensbutg... continued any of the Jews took up temporary CULTURAL COMMENTARY M residence in Standtamhof just across the Danube from where they attempted to negotiate permission to return. Eventually Louis Moreau Gottschalk: they succeeded, but their communal way of life was destroyed never to be restored. The Jews continued to live and carry on America's Dashing Musical Ambassador business in Regensburg largely because by Henry Santos they served necessary economic roles but Assistant Professor of Music always on sufferance and at the pleasure of the city government and the Christian n probably the greatest period of pian­ citizens. ists, Gottschalk was compared favor­ It is well known that the European anti­ I ably with such paradigms of piano Semitism which reached its murderous artistry as Chopin, Liszt and Thalberg. His culmination in the Nazi era had its roots in playing was described somewhat the Middle Ages. Perhaps less well known, extravagantly by contemporaries as however, is the fact that prejudice against resembling a "cascade of pearls," and the Jews was by no means universal during "glittering stardust": he had "the golden the medieval period, even in Germany. touch." The Romantic Period's emphasis on Between 1100 and 1350, the Jews of the subjective and emotional quality of Regensburg were not only tolerated, but were also granted the same protections music, coupled with a greater freedom of accorded to Christian citizens, often in form, molded Gottschalk's artistry. Berlioz defiance of papal edicts, emperors' decrees praised him as "one of a very small number and the exhortations of religious fanatics. of those who possess all the different Today we are experiencing a resurgence of elements of the sovereign power of the interest in the Third Reich, stimulated by pianist, all the attributes that environ him movies like Sophie's Choice and the with an irresistible prestige." Chopin also publication of Hitler's spurious diaries, as praised him: according to Gottschalk's well as by our continuing fascination with I.. M. (;OTTSCHAI.K sister, after hearing her brother's some of history's most evil men. But as we performance of Chopin's Concerto for ouis Moreau Gottschalk (1829 . recall the horrors of the Nazi period, we Piano and Orchestra in E Minor, the Polish should remember also the twentieth­ 1869), the first American pianist and composer proclaimed that Gottschalk century counterparts of the citizens of L composer to achieve international would become "king of the pianists." fame, can truly be described as a musical Regensburg, those Christians who hid Jews n addition to winning renown for his in their attics, helped them escape to ambassador. He toured France, piano virtuosity, Gottschalk also devel­ England, or even adopted Jewish children. Switzerland, Spain, the U.S., Canada, the West Indies and South America. But I oped a reputation as a composer. His In these Christians, as in their Regensburg ironically, although Gottschalk's piano works introduced Europeans to the forebears, the sense of justice overcame the compositions and piano virtuosity made a Afro-Caribbean rhythms of the New World. vicious prejudice around them, and they great impact abroad, his work received an Three of his most popular compositions, kept this humanitarian spirit alive in a dark unenthusiastic and in some cases hostile "Bamboula," "La Savanne" (Ballade age. reception from the musical establishment in Creole), and "Le Bananier," (Chanson his native country. ~'- ...~' ' . Negre) were based on New Orleans Negro ;t.~....:.,..~.1.:~ : r;.<; "' ....~ ...,"'~l·}r'»'-~:\. ~. '~:. '~~ffaf Gottschalk was born in New Orleans of folk tunes. According to the French - .' 'f.'/ Jewish and Creole parents and was reputed composer Hector Berlioz, "Everybody in . ,.\ii" I I.. . iJ',t, ~ "',." ...... ~. ... to have been one-eighth Black. His Europe now knows 'Bamboula,' Le SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY keyboard talent was recognized early: he Bananier,' ... 'La Savanne' and twenty began taking piano lessons at the age of Bromberger, Siegmar. Die Juden In Regensburg other ingenious fantasies in which the bis zur Mille des 14.Jahrhunderts. , three, and at seven he substituted for his nonchalant grace of tropical melody 1934. teacher as organist at St. Louis Cathedral in assuages so agreeably our restless and New Orleans. When he was only twelve, the Elbogen, Ismar. Geschichte der Juden in insatiable passion for novelty." Deutschland. Berlin, 1935. child prodigy left New Orleans to go to Paris Gottschalk returned home and travelled for further study. Gemeiner, Karl Theodor. Reichsstadt by stage coach and railroad car throughout regensburgische Chronik. 4 vol. n Paris, Gottschalk was introduced to the United States and Canada. He was the Regensburg, 1800-24. the leading composers and writers of the first concert pianist of international stature Grau, Wilhelm. Antisemitismus im spaeten day. He studied piano with Sir Charles to perform in many small towns in the East, MittelaJter; das Ende der Regensburger I Judengemeinde, 1450·1519. , 1934. , who founded the Halle Orchestra in middle and far West. Manchester, England, as well as with Gottschalk's kind of recital was some­ Janner, Ferdinand. Geschichte der Bischoele Camille Stamity, a pupil of Kalkbrenner and what different from those of our own von Regensburg. 3 vol. Regensburg, 1883, Felix Mendelssohn, and Camille Saint­ day. The program was highly varied, and 84,84. Saens. With Pierre Maleden he studied often included a few opera selections, a Weiner, Meir. Regesten zur Geschichte der composition. In the salons of Paris he movement from a concerto, a symphony, a Juden in Deutschland Waehrend des pecame acquainted not only with other play, a juggler, and some piano solos. As Mittelalters. Hannover, 1862. musicians, such as Chopin, Berlioz, Gottschalk was the visiting artist, he was Widemann, Josef, ed. Regensburger Offenbach and Bizet, but also with writers expected to include the local talent on the Urkundenbuch. Monumenta Boica, Vol. like Hugo, Dumas Pere, Gautier and program. If a work pleased the.audience, the LIII. Munich, 1912. Lamartine. artist was expected to repeat it .. many

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