Why Jews Avoid Sleeping in York: A Tale of Tragic History

About fifty years ago, the head of the Gateshead Yeshiva, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Gurwitz (son-in-law of Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian), traveled with several of his students to the city of Manchester in central England. The journey from Gateshead in the north took a long time, and noticing he was about to fall asleep, he warned his students, "When we approach the city limits of York, wake me up, do not let me sleep!" To the students' puzzlement, he explained, "Are you not aware of the ancient decree that forbids Jews to sleep in the city of York?" Every Jew knows this.

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In the month of Iyar 1190, the market in the city of Bonn, Germany, was bustling with life. Jews were a central pillar in local commerce, having a transport line along the Rhine River, selling goods that villagers brought from the region's valleys to the city of Bonn. That day, a unique offering caught the eye of Jewish merchants: a group of non-Jewish traders from the north brought with them "Jewish merchandise"—an enormous amount of sacred books, Talmud, handwritten commentaries, tefillin, and mezuzahs. "Buy today, at bargain prices, holy books," they called out. A quick inspection of the books and sacred items revealed they were looted from the Jews of York. Merchants from Bonn, representing Jewish communities of Köln, Mainz, and Worms, were shocked to see the "merchandise" and attempted to ask the traders about its origin. The traders feigned innocence, claiming they "received it," but the Jews, with their bitter experience, understood the calamity that had befallen the York community. Indeed, messengers who arrived later described the events that occurred a month earlier to York's Jewish community. Rabbi Ephraim of Bonn describes in his book: "They destroyed their houses, plundered silver, gold, and cherished books written in abundance, more delightful than gold and many treasures—a value unparalleled in beauty and elegance—brought them to Cologne and other places, and sold them to Jews" (The Book of Remembrance).

The Jews of York were protected by the king because they were moneylenders, a profession banned by Christianity but vital to the city's economy, essentially functioning as banks. The royal court gained extensive credit and increased taxes, so harming the Jews was prohibited. In 1190, Richard the Lionheart, King of England, decided to embark on a crusade to restore the lost honor of Christians, defeated three years prior at the Battle of Hattin near Tiberias. Known as the Third Crusade, it was led by the King of England, Frederick Barbarossa — Emperor of the "Holy Roman Empire", and Philip, King of France. Since previous crusades led to the massacre of Jews, kings left strict orders not to harm Jews, who were considered royal assets. Frederick Barbarossa announced that anyone harming a Jew would have their hands cut off upon the king's safe return.

However, in England, these warnings were apparently insufficiently intimidating. The nobility of York, in northern England, Yorkshire district, began inciting riots against the Jews. Most debtors of the Jews were nobles, as commoners dared not take loans with interest and lacked collateral. The nobles, living in luxury, often failed to repay their loans and seized upon the opportunity to destroy the Jews in the name of Christianity. On the eve of Shabbat Hagadol, the 7th of Nissan 1190, March 16, 1190, riots in the Jewish street began. The Jews, anticipating such a possibility, had agreed with the city's fortress governor to barricade themselves within, and so they all gathered in Clifford's Tower, locking the gates.

After looting and destroying Jewish homes, the incited mob gathered around the tower, demanding its gates be opened. The Jews within saw the fortress commanders abandoning their posts and looked to their rabbi, Rabbi Yom Tov—a disciple of Rabbeinu Tam, grandson of Rashi. In the background, cries rang out: convert or die!

Rabbi Yom Tov stood before his terrified Jewish brothers and cried out: "God of our ancestors, who shall dictate what He shall do? It is He who commands us today to die for our Torah, and here stands death at the door. Surely, it is unthinkable, God forbid, to abandon the holy Torah for a momentary life, choosing a harsher fate than death, living as traitors dependent on the mercy of wicked enemies, subjected to everlasting disgrace. "Thus, as our Creator demands today that we return the life He has given us, let us surrender it with our own hands. Many of our people did the same during past persecutions."

Rabbi Yom Tov concluded his words, and his students set fire to the fortress's walls, which began to blaze. The attackers retreated in panic, and the fortress, along with all the Jews of York, ascended in smoke, sanctifying God's name with their lives.

King Richard's envoy boiled with rage over the harm to his "property." He imposed heavy fines on 52 senior citizens, organizers of the massacre, expelled the nobles who initiated the massacre from their estates, and sent them into exile. However, for the miserable Jews, the punishment offered no solace.

Jews across Europe were appalled by the behavior of the Christian mob and resolved to boycott the city of York: never to reside in it and not to sleep there even for one night. To this day, when Jews in England are compelled to visit York for their livelihood, they take care not to sleep there, in memory of our holy ancestors murdered for sanctifying God's name in York.