From travel to daily life, music to law – this issue will cover all aspects of the medieval Jewish experience. We begin with a look at itinerant travelers such as Benjamin of Tudela, who shared his experiences with the various Jewish communities he came into contact with across Europe and in the Holy Land, then move to the prolific writer Rashid al-Din and the illustrated Jewish history at the Mongol Court. We touch on food traditions (and prohibitions) and how Jews navigated these dietary requirements around their Christian neighbors. We learn about the origins of Jewish music and its importance in medieval Jewish culture. We then look at the darker side of medieval Jewish history when we investigate the reasons behind the horrific Rhineland Massacres that swept across Europe in the wake of the First Crusade. We also examine the hostility shown towards Jews in France and the legal framework and attitudes established by various French rulers towards this religious minority.

We hope you enjoy this issue!