Josce of York facts for kids

Josce of York was an important leader of the Jewish community in York, England, around the year 1190. He was a key figure during a very sad and violent event in York that year, where many Jewish people were attacked by an angry crowd. Josce and nearly the entire Jewish community faced a terrible choice: be killed or forced to change their religion by the mob. They made a difficult decision to end their own lives rather than face this.

Who Was Josce of York?

Josce is first mentioned in a very old English document from 1176. This document was a shetar, which was like a receipt for paying back a loan.

He was important enough to attend the crowning ceremony of King Richard I. He likely represented the Jewish community of York at this big event. Luckily, he managed to escape a violent attack on Jewish people that happened in London at that time.

The Attack in York

When Josce returned to York, his home was attacked by an angry crowd. His house was very grand, almost like a small castle. Josce, his wife, and his children, along with many other Jewish people, quickly went to Clifford's Tower for safety.

Inside the tower, they were trapped. The angry mob outside wanted to harm them or force them to change their religion. Faced with this terrible situation, the people inside the tower made a very difficult and sad decision. They chose to die by their own hands rather than be captured by the mob. Josce was the first to act, taking the lives of his wife, Anna, and his children. He himself was the last to die, killed by another person named Yom-Tov of Joigny.

Josce's Family and Property

It is believed that a famous financier and important Jewish leader named Aaron of York was Josce's son. Aaron later became the chief rabbi, or religious leader, for all of England.

It is also thought that Josce and another person named Samuel Hoppecole owned the land in London where the main Jewish synagogue, or place of worship, was built.