Statement
The Jews did not simply wait for disaster in order to sacrifice themselves: the father who fell on his sword was armed, and the chronicles say that when Mainz was attacked by the Crusaders of Count Emicho, young and old put on armor and took up weapons, led by Rabbi Kalonymus ben Meshullam, the community's chief. But worn down by hardships and fasting, they lacked strength to withstand the enemy.
Tradition or narrativeLow certainty✓ Verified
References
p. 197
reports the tradition · main text · ch. 7
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text
p. 197
supports · main text · ch. 7
Efron, Lehmann and Weitzman. The Jews: A History. 3rd edition. New York and Abingdon: Routledge, 2019.
Verification anchor recorded · checked against the page text