In its latest edition, the Eit-Mol journal reported
that fragments of Jewish tombstones from the time of the
Crusades discovered fifteen years ago in Wurtzburg, Germany
are currently being studied by a joint Israeli-German
team.
In 1986, locals began demolition of a structure built at the
end of the 14th century in Wurtzburg, prior to construction
of a new building on the site. Passersby noticed Hebrew
letters visible on the interior of the building. The matter
was brought to the attention of Professor Carl Heinz Molar
of the Department of Theology of the University of
Wurtzburg.
Professor Molar discovered that the entire building had been
built from stones which had previously served as Jewish
tombstones. The stones had been re-cut and, as a result, the
tombstones were not preserved intact. Nonetheless, one could
easily read the inscriptions: since the stones had faced the
building interior, they had not suffered the ravages of time
and weather.
Molar recruited students to transfer the stones -- seventy
tons worth -- to a warehouse outside the city. After
negotiations, the Bavarian government declared that the
Jewish community was the rightful owner of the tombstones.
Many of the inscriptions contain Hebrew dates, the oldest
being from the time of the Second Crusade. The cemetery was
apparently founded so that those massacred during that
period could be brought to Jewish burial. The latest Hebrew
date corresponds to 1347, the period of the black plague,
when the entire community died either from the plague or at
the hands of rioters accusing the Jews of spreading the
epidemic.
Researchers note that during that period, most tombstones in
Christian cemeteries were made of wood, while Jews have
always used stone tombstones on which they engraved the
names of the deceased and dedications.
When the Jewish community was liquidated, non-Jews shattered
the tombstones, using their stones to build a monastery.
Hundreds of other tombstones are apparently located deeper
underground and have yet to be unearthed.
This is the largest collection of Jewish tombstones ever
found in Europe. The deciphering work has been proceeding
slowly for many years, mainly at the hands of Professor
Molar. In recent years, three Israeli researchers have
joined him: Professor Shimon Shwartzfuchs, Rami Reiner and
Dr. Edna Angel, who are involved in preparing scientific
publication of their findings.
The tombstones present a picture of a prominent and
diversified community. One of its members was named "Shlomo
ben Avrohom Meor Hagolah." The tombstones indicate that the
community had a rav, a cantor, a darshan, a beadle
and a community leader. The name "Chavatzelet" is among the
names of women mentioned. Many of the names are known from
Torah literature, since Wurtzburg was an important Torah
center at the time.
