ir quarry. The climax was reached when a stone, thrown from the castle, killed a monk whose custom it was to celebrate Mass outside the castle every morning and urge the people to "destroy the enemies of Christ". When the Jews saw the fury of the besiegers and felt their fate to be sealed, they took their own lives, cutting one anothers throats. When the mobs gained access to the tower, the few Jews left, who begged for baptism and deliverance, were slaughtered. The total causalities have been estimated variously from 500 to 1500. From this scene of carnage, the attackers converged on the cathedral and burned all the records of financial obligations to the Jews kept in its archives." (Flannery)Another event which occurred in the 12th century, was the Blood Libel. The Christians accused the Jews of killing Christian children for ritual purposes. This idea created a cult, supposedly victims of these rituals, who took thousands of lives throughout Europe. Between 1880 and 1945, this fabrication was widespread in central eastern Europe. The Nazi newspaper "Der Sturmer" constantly showed rabbis sucking the blood of German children. (Brown)In 1215 the Fourth Lateran Council was called by Pope Innocent III. They discriminated more against the Jewish people. According to the decree, based on Numbers 15:37-41, Jews should wear distinctive dress attire. This was extremely demeaning because it was a restriction which also applied to Saracens, heretics, prostitutes, and lepers. The Jews were also told to wear the ‘badge of shame’ on their clothing, the shape and color was different in each country. This idea made Jews social outcasts and influenced physical and verbal abuse. Finally, the decree provided for the official establishment of ghettos. (Flannery)In 1290, Jews were expelled from England. Sixteen thousand left for France and Belgium. Some never made it there. (Flannery) "Jews have been expelled from nearly ev...
