Presbyter Judaeorum facts for kids
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The Presbyter Judaeorum was a very important leader for the Jews of England a long time ago, before they were asked to leave the country. This job was usually for life, meaning the person stayed in the role until they died. However, a few times, someone either quit or was removed from the position.
Historians have different ideas about what the Presbyter Judaeorum actually did. Some, like a scholar named Prynne, thought it was just a regular government job. They believed the Presbyter worked in a special office called the Exchequer of the Jews, which was like a government department that handled Jewish affairs and money. Their job might have been to keep important records.
But another scholar, Tovey, thought the job was more about religion. He pointed out that words like "sacerdos" (which means priest) and "pontifex" (which means high priest) were sometimes used for this role. This made him think the Presbyter Judaeorum had a religious role, similar to a church leader.
Contents
Who Was the Presbyter Judaeorum?
Only six people held the title of Presbyter Judaeorum between the years 1199 and 1290.
- Jacob of London was the first known Presbyter, appointed in 1199.
- Josce of London held the position from 1217 to 1237.
- Aaron of York was appointed in 1237.
- Elias le Evesque also started in 1237.
- Hagin fil Mosse became Presbyter in 1257.
- Hagin fil Deulacres was appointed in 1281. He got the job thanks to the support of Eleanor of Provence, who was the Queen of England at the time.
What Did the Presbyter Judaeorum Do?
The Presbyter Judaeorum had several important duties, mixing both legal and administrative tasks.
Helping with Justice
When Elias le Evesque was appointed, the officials who handled Jewish legal matters were told not to make any decisions without his approval. This suggests that the Presbyter acted a bit like a "baron" of the Jewish Exchequer. A baron in this context was a high-ranking official who helped manage the government's money and legal system.
Explaining Royal Laws
It was also clearly stated that Hagin fil Mosse had taken an oath to work in the Jewish Exchequer. His job was to help make sure justice was carried out fairly for the king. He also had to explain the king's laws to the Jewish community.
Successor to Jewish Judges
Because of these responsibilities, it's likely that the Presbyter Judaeorum took over some of the roles that earlier Jewish judges had. We know that two Jewish judges were active towards the end of the 1100s, and the Presbyter's job seems to have continued some of their important work.
