When the Pope Discovered His Jewish Roots

The Year: 1210 CE. The Place: Rome, Italy.

One of the most moving piyyutim (liturgical poems) recited during the Shacharit service on the second day of Rosh Hashanah is "El Chanan Nachalato b'Noam L'hashper," which begins with these words: "King whose promises are dependable, Whose Name is exalted." This was composed by Rabbi Shimon ben Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan — known as Rabbi Shimon HaGadol, a descendant of King David and a close student of Rabbeinu Gershom, who lived in Mainz, Germany a thousand years ago. An extraordinary story is told about this piyyut, Rabbi Shimon, and his son: the Jewish Pope.

Rabbi Shimon had a young and talented son named Elchanan, who was bright and diligent in his Torah studies. A Christian servant took an interest in this gifted child and decided to convert him. She handed him over to priests who baptized him into Christianity and took him to Rome. Elchanan developed remarkable abilities, and the priests invested greatly in his education. He rose through the ranks of the clergy until he became a cardinal in Rome and, upon the pope's death, was appointed as Pope Innocent II.

Though many sought his counsel, one thing troubled him: he did not know who his parents were. He confronted the priests who had raised him, saying, "Do I not have any relatives in the world? Know that if you do not tell me, I will kill you all!" With no choice, they confessed that he was born to a Jewish family and his father was Rabbi Shimon, the chief rabbi of Mainz.

The pope, wanting to meet his famous father, cunningly enacted a decree of forced conversion on the Jewish community in Mainz, hoping that they would send a delegation to plead for its annulment, with his father among the delegates. And so it happened.

When the delegation stood before the pope, he immediately recognized his father. After the discussions with the delegation, he invited Rabbi Shimon to play chess with him. During the game, they conversed casually.

The pope asked Rabbi Shimon, "How many sons do you have?" Rabbi Shimon listed his sons. The pope persisted, "Did you have another son?" Rabbi Shimon hesitated, fearing to answer, until the pope pressed him: "Why are you silent? Tell me the truth." Rabbi Shimon finally said, "My lord, I had another young son who was taken from me, and I do not know where he is or if he lives, for I have not seen him until now." The pope asked, "Do you recall any marks on his body?" Rabbi Shimon replied, "Yes, there were certain signs on his back and hand."

The pope was moved and realized that this was indeed his father, as he had those same marks. He declared, "My father, my father, I am your son! Here are those signs on my body." Rabbi Shimon was shocked, and the pope showed him the marks, saying, "My father, my father, what can I do to be worthy of the World to Come? For I know that the teachings of that man are meaningless and nothing."

His father advised him: "You desecrated Hashem's name publicly – sanctify it publicly, and I will accept you, ensuring you a portion in the World to Come."

The pope asked, "How should I do this?" Rabbi Shimon suggested, "Invite all the leaders of the government and the Christian religion to your palace, and sanctify Hashem's name before them."

Rabbi Shimon left his son with tears and embraces and returned to his city. Meanwhile, Elchanan gathered the leaders at his palace, climbed to the top of a tower, and declared before the assembly, "Hear all of you why you have gathered here, for until now I did not want to reveal to you, but now I do so: that man is meaningless, and your faith in him is baseless. I am not deluded, for the spirit of Hashem is within me, and you are the fools."

The priests became angry and threatened to kill him lest he lead people away from their faith. Seeing this, he jumped from the tower, declaring, "I will not let my soul be taken by these impure ones, for I believe in the God of my father." He jumped and died.

When Rabbi Shimon heard of his son's sanctification of the name, he praised and thanked Hashem and composed the piyyut for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, "El Chanan Nachalato b'Noam L'hashper," in honor of his holy son.

That's one tradition. Another holds a happier ending, where Elchanan managed to escape from the Vatican, not before annulling several decrees against the Jewish people. He secretly returned to Mainz and embraced his Judaism once more.