Anacletus II-the Jewish 'Anti-Pope' By DAVID B. LEE (Dedicated to my Grandson, Bryan) (A Seven Arts Feature) You are only three years old now, Bryan. But you will grow and, I hope, read this true story about a Jew and his father. And you will know what the Mahzor is, and what we read therein, espe- cially on the second day of Rosh Hashana. You will find a poem— such poems are called piyutim — written in the 12th century by a man named Shimon Hagadol—the great Shimon—of Mainz, a city in Germany. You will recognize this piyut because it starts with the word "Elhanan." Mainz had a large Jewish com- munity living in a ghetto that, for many years, was subjected to hor- rible persecutions, Jews often being slaughtered there simply because they were Jews. The Catholic archbishop of Mainz was one of the worst anti-Semites in existence. The kidnapping of Jewish boys and their sale to the local priests who would then have these boys brought up as Chris- tians, was a frequent occurrence in Mainz. Born to Shimon — later to be called "Hagadol"—was a child he named Elhanan. A Christian ser- vant stole the child. Appeals to the archbishop for recovery of the baby were rejected contemptu- ously. Elhanan had been, obvi- ously, sold into priestly eapivity. * s • We skip now to the year 1130. Pope Innocent H had just died. The College of Cardinals was con- vened in Rome for the election of a new pope. There were several candidates. One, whose name had been put forward by the arch- bishop of Mainz, was accused by some prelates of being a Jew. The "prince" from Mainz fought hard for his nominee. The candidate had an immaculate record as one of the brightest young priests in Rome. He had shown himself to be a profound scholar and as pious a priest as any ever seen. The man was elected. He took on the name of Pope Anacletus IL After reigning for nearly eight years, Anacletus II summoned the , archbishop of Mainz to the Vatican. In an open session, Ana- cletus II announced he would grant to the archbishop of Mainz any favor sought by the man from Mainz. The archbishop asked that he be given the right to exterminate all the Jews of Mainz—man, woman and child. "Granted," said Anacletus II- But there was a provision. The ruler of the church at Mainz was to issue a decree for the slaughter of all "his" Jews—but in the name of the pope himself. Such a decree would entitle the Jews to appeal directly to the pope in the Vatican. The archbishop was ordered to permit such an appeal and to fur- nish stout guards to insure the safety of the Mainz Jewish delega- tion on its way to Rome. • • • Very soon, under heavy guard, there came to the Vatican three Mainz Jews — the chief rabbi, a shohet who had been named so that the travelers could have kosher food on their journey, and the president of the community, Shimon Hagadol. Eloquently, the chief rabbi requested nullification of the papal decree. Then Shimon Hagadol spoke with great passion, pleading for the lives of his people. He told the pope of the horrible harassments to which the Jews of Mainz had been subjected by the archbishop. He told of the many Jewish boys who had been abduct- Sincere Wishes for a Most Happy New Year • ed and sold to local priests. He CADILLAC BODY SERVICE said that he himself had lost a s I Custom C011ision Work on All Makes of Cars •:,,, child in that manner. ZO. 1 . ALL WORK GUARANTEED Anacletus II questioned Shimon. -,.., He inquired especially about Shi- TY 8 5600 8461 Grand River mon's own missing son. Then, de- claring himself unconvinced of the truth of Shimon's testimony, he ordered that Shimon go with the We Wish Our Friends and Customers pope into the pontiff's private A Year of Health, Happiness and Simchas chamber for further interrogation. A papal secretary came forward MR. & MRS. SAMUEL HERSKOVIC & SONS but was waved away by the pope. Two swordsmen — executioners — OAK MANOR KOSHER CATERERS started to enter the pope's private 863-2446 8900 W. 7 Mile Rd. chamber. They too were ordered back. The captain of the pope's private guard frisked Shimon, to make sure that the Jew carried no weapons hidden in his garments. Season's Best Wishes Then the pope and Shimon entered the pontiff's private chamber. The entourage heard the pope locking and bolting the door inside his chamber. The two remaining Jews prayed for the life of Shimon. All in the pope's throne room were sure that the pope would kill Shi- , s, ' Holiday Greetings . mon Hagadol himself. Pl ,.1 • • * SUSIE Q RESTAURANT What happened inside the cham- Fish and Chips—Chicken--Jumbo Shrimp ber was never made public—but t.1 Lobster Tails that you will enjoy—Home-made Pies reports seeped through in later t4 Beautiful dining room—Large Parties years. Kissing old Shimon Hagadol to: v 2216 N. Woodward, 1 /4 Mile N. of 12 Mile Rd., Royal Oak on his lips, muttering "father, LI 3 - 7300 father," Anacletus II told Shimon Hagadol he knew that the horrible decree would bring Shimon to the Vatican for a final plea—and rec- Wishing Our Friends and Customers ognition. Anacletus II had had - his Greetings For The New Year own agents organize the facts. Openly in a few minutes, the pope resumed his place on the SUSSMAN PRINT SHOP throne, with Shimon Hagadol Quality Printing Since 1919 joining his two fellow-Jews from TO 8-2909 11826 DEXTER Mainz in the prisoners' dock. Anacletus II ruled that the charges against the archbishop of Mainz were so serious that he, Holiday Best Wishes the pope, would investigate the situation in person. With an en- larged escort of papal guards, the pope and his three Jewish prisoners left that day for Mainz. Royal Oak JO 4-6492 322 East Harrison Meanwhile, Anacletus >lI order- CEMENT BLOCKS AND SPECIALTIES ed that the archbishop bf Mainz if be suspended from office\ and re ***lc* main under house arrest in the , 1,211,' ,:z2V-A ■ X.:31:KaallgrA1012<*:CAPFX:411011..76X>111 Vatican. Under papal guard, Shimon Hag- Holiday Greetings * adol with his two fellow-Jews re- 14 entered the ghetto in Mainz. But they were joined by another man. Anacletus II declared himself El- hanan ben Shimon Hagadol. For 7645 Gratiot WA 5-7000 the time being, the Jews of Mainz were saved. ie:14111C+411M"' • * * Elhanan ben Shimon Hagadol did not live long after his return to the ghetto. It was suspected that he may have starved himself to death. For many days and nights, he had locked himself in a small room in the main synagogue, where he spent his time praying and studying. After Elhanan's death, Shimon Hagadol wrote the piyut that opens with the name of Elhanan. Since death had come to Elhanan on the second night of Rosh Hashana, the rabbis of Mainz decreed that, thereafter, the poem to the mem- ory of Elhanan be incorporated into the mahzor for Rosh Hashana. In all its historic essentials, Bryan, this story is true. When you are old enough to check the official Catholic Church chronol- ogy of popes, you will find the name of Anacletus II listed among the popes. The years given are 1130-1138. But the official listing gives the name of Anacletus II in italic type. Such emphasis means that, as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, Anacletus II is con- sidered an "anti-pope"—an enemy of the papacy. 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