Toledo, 1391

Toledo, Spain
1391

In 1391, a Dominican priest named Vincente Ferrer incited the people of Toledo against the Jews. On the 17th of Tamuz, a mob swept through the city and slaughtered almost all the Jews. The main leaders of the community were killed, while some of the people were forced to convert in order to save their lives. Of the fourteen synagogues in the city, many were destroyed while others were turned into churches. (Cecil Roth,  A Hebrew Elegy on the Martyrs of Toledo, 1391)

In a summary of the events, Hasdai Crescas wrote that
"Here they slew in the sanctuary of the Lord [i.e. in the Synagogue] priest and prophet." (Letter reprinted in Shevet Yehuda, 128, and available in manuscript form)
Up to that point, the non-Jewish leaders of Toledo had mostly helped to protect the Jews of the community. In these riots, "they were found among the most violent in the onslaught." (Jewish Encyclopedia)

In the aftermath, several kinot were written that describe the events and list the famous martyrs. Cecil Roth analyzed one particular version in the article referenced above.

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