Now I shall relate how the persecution spread to the other communities whose members were killed for the sake of God’s unique name, how faithfully they remained attached to the Lord, God of their ancestors, and how they proclaimed His unity until their souls departed.

It happened in the year 4856 from the creation of the world [1096 CE], the year in which we had hoped for salvation and consolation through the prophecy of Jeremiah: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob and shout at the head of the nations.” Instead, gladness was changed into sorrow and sighing, weeping and cries of distress. Many evils described in the biblical admonitions, both those written explicitly and those left unwritten, came upon us.

First there arose a fierce and foreign-speaking people, the bitter and impetuous French and Germans. They resolved to travel to the holy city, which violent nations had profaned, to seek the grave of the hanged one, drive the Muslims from the land and conquer it for themselves.

They made signs upon themselves, placing the image of a cross upon their clothing. Every man and woman whose heart moved them to follow the mistaken road to the grave of their messiah did so, until they became as numerous as locusts upon the earth, men, women and children. Of them it is written: “The locusts have no king, yet all of them march forth in formation.”

As they passed through towns inhabited by Jews, they said to one another: “We’re traveling a great distance to seek the house of our worship and take vengeance upon the Muslims. Yet here among us are the Jews, whose ancestors killed and crucified him without cause. Let us first take vengeance upon them and wipe them out as a nation, so that the name of Israel will no longer be remembered. Otherwise, let them become like us and acknowledge the son.”

When the Jewish communities heard these words, they took hold of the practices of their ancestors: repentance, prayer and charity. Yet the hands of the holy people grew weak, their hearts melted and their strength failed.

They hid from room to room because of the threatening sword. They afflicted themselves with fasting and went without water for three consecutive days and nights, besides observing additional daily fasts, until their skin clung to their bones and became dry as wood.

They cried aloud with a great and bitter cry, but their Father didn’t answer them. He closed Himself to their prayer and covered Himself with a cloud so that their prayers couldn’t pass through.

The decree had gone forth from Him. This generation had been chosen before Him as His portion because its members possessed the strength and courage to stand in His sanctuary, carry out His command and sanctify His great name throughout the world.

Concerning them, David said: “Bless the Lord, you His angels, mighty in strength, who perform His word.”