SIMḤAH B. ISAAC B. KALONYMUS HA-KOHEN:

By: Isidore Singer, Jacob Zallel Lauterbach

One of the Worms Jews who were killed by the pilgrims of the First Crusade on May 25, 1096. When his father, Mar Isaac, and his seven brothers had been slain by the Crusaders, Simḥah declared he would not die without having avenged their deaths. Pretending willingness to accept baptism, he was taken for that purpose to the church. When, however, the sacrament was about to be administered to him, he drew a knife which he had secreted in his garments, and stabbed the nephew of the bishop, whereupon he was slain in the edifice as he had anticipated.

S. J. Z. L.