Rising above the York city walls is the motte with Clifford’s Tower, known throughout the Jewish world for the atrocities of the night of March 16th, 1190. Earlier, in 1189, two Jewish citizens from York, Benedict and Josce went to the coronation of Richard I, and Benedict was killed in an antisemitic attack on the way home. This, as well as resentment towards Jews in general due to money lending practices at the time, led to ransacking of his home some months later and violence towards other Jews. The Jewish community took refuge in the part of York Castle now known as Clifford’s Tower. Complications arose when the king’s agent left the tower, and there ensued threats to the community, both of death and of forced conversion.
Those who stayed in the tower chose to end their own lives rather than face sure torment at the hands of the angry mob. Jewish records say that 150 people perished that night. Modern forensic work at the ancient cemetery in Jewbury, detecting some 150 hastily buried bodies, supports this idea. Among the dead is almost certainly Rabbi Yom Tov of Joigny, a student of Rabbeinu Tam, grandson of the great commentator Rashi, whose beautiful liturgical poetry we chant at the high holidays. The terror of that night is recounted in synagogues around the world on Yom Kippur in the section of prayers of remembrance of those who died unjustly.
Following that night, the papers for debts owed to the Jewish community were destroyed. There is evidence that Jews repopulated York shortly after the massacre, and remained active in the city until all Jews were expelled from England in 1290. The rumour that a cherem (religious ban) was placed on York by medieval rabbis following the events at Clifford’s Tower is unfounded. YLJC is the proud new shoot arising from ancient Jewish roots in the area.