The Tragic Tale of Blois: A Community's Trial by Fire

In the French city of Blois, Lady Pulcelina, a wealthy Jewish woman, wasn't well-liked among her neighbors, and perhaps with good reason. She lent money with interest, becoming a financial lifeline to many nobles and officials in the area, who were consequently indebted to her. A successful merchant, Pulcelina also supported the business endeavors of the city's count, Theobald. He was a man of high standing in France, the brother-in-law of the king, and held esteemed positions such as the head of the court and a military commander.

The countess, daughter of King Louis VII, harbored intense animosity towards the wealthy Jewess and awaited an opportunity to rid herself of Pulcelina. This chance arrived in the form of a farcical incident: a servant of the count was by the Loire River with a Jewish man, drawing water for his horse. A processed hide, probably intended for a Torah scroll, slipped from the Jewish man's bag and floated away. The servant returned to the estate claiming to have witnessed a Jew throwing a 'baby' into the river. This absurd story was sufficient to ignite the imagination of France's anti-Semitic factions. It was the month of Sivan, in the year 1171.

The count swiftly ordered the arrest of all the Jews in the city, despite there being no missing child or any evidence of a crime. His demands included a ransom and the cancellation of all the debts owed to the Jews by non-Jews. However, the Christian clergy demanded harsher punishment. The servant who claimed to have seen the infant was subjected to a 'water test': placed in a basin, when he did not sink, it was 'proven' he spoke the truth. Therefore, 31 Jews were sentenced to death by fire, among them 14 men and 17 women, including Lady Pulcelina.

Rabbi Ephraim of Bonn, the first to document the event in his "Book of Remembrance," describes how the Blois community, men, women, and children, faced the flames reciting the prayer 'Aleinu leshabeach.' He writes that they initially sang in a low voice, eventually raising their voice in unison with a loud cry of 'Aleinu leshabeach,' as the fire consumed them.

Although the debts owed to the now despised Jewess were erased, the count still demanded the funds he was due. He imposed a heavy ransom on the Jewish communities throughout France. This event left a profound impact on the Jews of northern France. They declared a fast and composed numerous lamentations in memory of the tragedy known as the "Blois Incident." In the community of Troyes, home of Rabbeinu Tam, it was decreed that silk garments would not be worn for three years and that people would fast on Mondays and Thursdays until the year's end.