The First Crusade was anti-Jewish, with the goal of “subjugating all non-believers to the [Christian] faith” by forced conversions. In order to avoid such conversions, there are records of cases of mass suicides within Jewish communities, particularly among Jewish virgins. The Crusaders left trails of bloodshed in Europe on their way to ‘liberate’ the Holy Land. In Palestine, both Muslims and Jews were indiscriminately massacred or sold into slavery. The records from 1099 to 1291 CE state that the Christian Crusaders, “mercilessly persecuted and slaughtered the Jews of Palestine” forcing Jews to convert on the threat of death. Under Crusader rule, Jews were not allowed to own land or involve themselves in commerce.
In 1099 CE Jews were among the rest of the population who tried in vain to defend Jerusalem against the Crusaders. When the city fell, a massacre of 6,000 Jews occurred when the synagogue they were seeking refuge in was burned. In Haifa, the Jews and Muslims held out for a whole month (June–July 1099 CE).
At this time there were Jewish communities scattered all over the country, including Jerusalem, Tiberias, Ramleh, Ashkelon, Caesarea, and Gaza. A large volume of piyutim (worship poetry) and Midrashim (teachings) originated in Palestine at this time. In 1165 CE Maimonides visited Jerusalem and prayed on the Temple Mount, in the “great, holy house”. In 1141 CE Spanish poet Yehuda Halevi issued a call to the Jews to immigrate to the Land of Israel, a journey he undertook himself.
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