Bishop Rudiger of Speyer Assignment
In 1084 Bishop Rudiger of Speyer issued an official charter inviting Jews to settle in the city of Speyer (Germany) and establish a community there. It is one of the earliest documents of such sort. The charter provides important clues about the nature of Jewish communities in Medieval Europe, their legal status and their relationships with neighbors.
The Hebrew report on p. 59 describes the circumstances under which Rudiger’s charter was given. Analyze both documents and what they tell us about the nature of Medieval Jewish communities in Europe. Answer the following questions:
The Jews Report1. Why did Bishop Rudiger decide to invite Jews to settle in the city of Speyer? What, do you think, were an immediate cause and deeper reasons for his decision? Get Social Science help today
