Discover a British tale of prejudice, hatred, and greed that has echoes of the modern day—no it’s not a BBC crime show, it’s our virtual walking tour of York.
Jews first came to Britain in significant numbers after 1066, and by the mid-12th century when Henry II took the English throne, Jewish communities had been established in significant English cities, including York. In York, the Jewish community primarily provided funds for development projects planned by the Crown and the Church. Resentment rooted in the borrower-lender syndrome led to the worst Jewish massacre in English history on March 16, 1190. Still, by the middle of the 13th century many Jews had homes in the city, including Aaron of York, leader of the English Jewish community. See these sites, and delve deeper into the histories with the Museum and Our Travel Circle.