JUNE 18 1155: In Rome, the coronation of Frederick Barbarossa makes him the Holy Roman Emperor. Compared to other medieval monarchs, Frederick’s treatment of his Jewish subjects was comparatively benign. Frederick viewed the Jews as “his subjects” whi... »
JUNE 16 1221: Massacre of the Jews of Erfurt, Germany which at one time was commemorated as a Fast Day on the 25th of Sivan. 1295: Mahmud Ghazan the seventh ruler of the Mongol Empire's Ilkhanate division in modern-day Iran converted to I... »
JUNE 4 1039 Conrad II passed away. Born in 990, he served Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 until his death. His reign was part of positive period for the Jews of the Rhineland. The first synagogue was built in Worms in 1034 and Rabbi Gershom b... »
May 24 1218: The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. The driving forces behind the crusade were two Popes who broke new ground in the mistreatment of the Jews – Innocent III and his successor, Honorius III. One of their most infamou... »