Dedication of a New Speyer Synagogue, 1104, Anonymous Twelfth-Century Hebrew Narrative

Medieval W. Christendom
[This is a continuation of the account of the founding and history of the Speyer
Jewish community (above, section 1). After noting that the bishop protected his Jews in
1096, the account continues-]

Eleven Jews were killed, but the rest of the community was saved, may his [the
bishop’s] memory be blessed and exalted forever. Subsequently, we returned to the
town, everyone to his own home and place. Those in the upper town could not descend
to the lower town evening, morning, and noon—out of fear of the enemy that persecuted
us. We thus prayed in the upper town in the school of Rabbi Judah some of Rabbi
Kalonymous. Those in the lower town prayed in their [regular place, in the synagogue.
Thus they did for some years.

All the work [on a new synagogue in the upper town] was completed in the month
of Ellul, 4864 [1104]. On the eve of Rosh ha-Shanah, one of the elders came and said to
the community- “Come, let us ascend to the house we have established formally and
properly. The elders of the town, the priests, and the levites went and brought up the
Torah scrolls into the ark in the synagogue with great joy. They have remained there to
this very day. On the morrow, on Rosh ha-Shanah, we began to pray there, and we have
prayed there to this very day.