Josce of York
Encyclopedia
Josce of York (died 1190) was the leader of the Jewish community in York
, England
, and the leading figure in the York massacre of 1190
. He committed suicide along with nearly the entire Jewish community, rather than face death or conversion at the hands of an angry mob.
Josce is mentioned in the earliest surviving English sheṭar (recipt for debt repayment), of 1176. He was one of those who attended the coronation of Richard I
, doubtless as the representative of the York congregation, and escaped the London massacre. On his return to York, where he had a house which rivaled a citadel in the scale and magnificence of its construction, he was attacked by the mob, and with his wife and children joined other fugitives who sought refuge in Clifford's Tower. When the decision was reached to put one another to death rather than fall into the hands of the enemy, Josce was the first to act, slaying his wife, Anna, and his children; he himself was slain last by Yom-Tov of Joigny.
It is likely that the noted Aaron of York
or Aaron fil Josce, the financier and chief rabbi
of England
was Josce's son.
It is probable that Josce and Samuel Hoppecole held the land in London on which the chief synagogue was built.
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the leading figure in the York massacre of 1190
York Castle
York Castle in the city of York, England, is a fortified complex comprising, over the last nine centuries, a sequence of castles, prisons, law courts and other buildings on the south side of the River Foss. The now-ruinous keep of the medieval Norman castle is sometimes referred to as Clifford's...
. He committed suicide along with nearly the entire Jewish community, rather than face death or conversion at the hands of an angry mob.
Josce is mentioned in the earliest surviving English sheṭar (recipt for debt repayment), of 1176. He was one of those who attended the coronation of Richard I
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
, doubtless as the representative of the York congregation, and escaped the London massacre. On his return to York, where he had a house which rivaled a citadel in the scale and magnificence of its construction, he was attacked by the mob, and with his wife and children joined other fugitives who sought refuge in Clifford's Tower. When the decision was reached to put one another to death rather than fall into the hands of the enemy, Josce was the first to act, slaying his wife, Anna, and his children; he himself was slain last by Yom-Tov of Joigny.
It is likely that the noted Aaron of York
Aaron of York
Aaron of York or Aaron fil Josce was a Jewish financier and chief rabbi of England. He was born in York before 1190 and died after 1253. He was probably the son of Josce of York, the leading figure in the York massacre of 1190.-Chief Rabbi:...
or Aaron fil Josce, the financier and chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was Josce's son.
It is probable that Josce and Samuel Hoppecole held the land in London on which the chief synagogue was built.