Elegy for the Martyrs of York

Joseph of Chartres

Late 12th Century

Oh God! Lords other than Thee have possessed us;
[ . . . ] and for Thy name Thy people are brought to the sword.
Thy servants (Dread one!) stand for judgment —fathers to be slain upon the children.
The judgment of their Creator they accepted, nor did they break off His yoke: they admitted the righteousness of the Righteous One—the Rock whose way…
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Joseph wrote this elegy for the 1190 martyrdom of the Jews of York, in England. In this period, Jews of England and northern France shared most of the same religious and cultural practices, and there was much fluidity between the two communities. Although certain leading Christians sought to help the Jews of York, Joseph charges the king of England (Richard I) with supporting the attack. Joseph also laments the death of the talmudist Yom Tov ben Isaac of Joigny (d. 1190).

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Related Guide

Early Medieval History and Travel Writing

8th to 12th Century

Creator Bio

Joseph of Chartres

12th Century

Joseph ben Asher of Chartres, a small town outside of Paris, was a polemicist and biblical commentator active in the second half of the twelfth century. Joseph studied with Jacob ben Meir (1100–1171; Rabbenu Tam) and his older brother Samuel ben Meir (twelfth century; Rashbam).

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