> > jews fought side-by-side with saracen soldiers to defend jerusalem against the crusaders. saint louis university professor thomas f. madden, author of a concise history of the crusades, claims the "jewish defenders" of the city knew the rules of warfare and retreated to their synagogue to "prepare for death" since the crusaders had breached the outer walls. according to the muslim chronicle of ibn al-qalanisi, "the jews assembled in their synagogue, and the franks burned it over their heads." one modern-day source even claims the crusaders "[circled] the screaming, flame-tortured humanity singing 'christ we adore thee!' with their crusader crosses held high." > what is this disease? the festivals of the pitiful and miserable jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of trumpets, the feast of tabernacles, the fasts. there are many in our ranks who say they think as we [christians] do. yet some of them are going to watch the festivals and others will join the jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. i wish to drive this perverse custom from the church right now. > although these beliefs, and the accompanying massacres, were frequently encouraged by local bishops or itinerant flagellants, the catholic church, including pope clement vi under whom the flagellants and the black death began, and his successor, innocent vi, were firmly against it. in a papal bull condemning the flagellant movement in late 1349, pope clement vi criticized their "shedding the blood of jews the pope disagreeing didnt stop them from being lynched and having their villages burned. simple as. also check out some of the loot from the erfurt treasure. its a jewish wedding ring from 1349. interesting design, huh? were all being conned.
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