Destruction by French

I uploaded an article on the destruction of the synagogue in the late 1600's by the French in dropbox.

Here are some main points from it, copy and pasted..

French officials ordered the citizenry to abandon Worms on

May On that day, the old Bishop pleaded to remain (in his dome) but was refused. Many religious articles from the Worms synagogue were transferred temporarily to the Jewish community

in Metz.23 One official promised that the city would not be destroyed until June 2, but the French surprised the citizens, beginning the destruction by burning the deserted city, together with Speyer and Oppenheim, on May 31.

By noon, many of the buildings were ablaze. Those that were not consumed were turned into storage facilities and stables. The famous synagogue of Worms became a horse stall.

"The French tore down the eagle, which had been the

sign of the German Emperor's protection, from the city

gates. In its place, he erected the three lilies - the

symbol of the French monarchy. He then commanded

the burghers and the Jews to demolish the city walls.

They were further required to destroy all of the towers in

the city and the buttresses erected in the four corners of

the walls. Those towers, which could not be broken, were

coated with gunpowder and exploded. We Jews were then

in grave danger. One side of the Jewish street was

attached to the wall of the city, and many of the houses

were built into the wall and the towers. The entire Jewish

street and all of the Jews who lived there were faced with

annihilation. But God protected us so that no harm befell

a soul. The fragments of the exploded tower jetted to the

other side of the street. May the blessed God continue to

protect Israel.

At that point we still dwelt in tranquility. The thoughts

that the Frenchman might raze the city did not enter into

our minds. We believed that he had destroyed the walls

and the fortresses so that the Germans would not be able to

fortify themselves. We also believed that the French [like

the Germans] were interested in preserving Worms, for

they themselves had comforted us by saying, "Do not fear.

although we are under orders to destroy other cities, we will

spare Worms, for she is an ancient city." We were calmed,

for we accepted their words as truthful. The cities that they

had burned were far away, and we knew little of them. Yet

... we began to see their words were lies.

In the year 5449 [1689], the French decided to burn the

three cities of Worms, Speyers and Oppenheim.29 Since

they feared that the burghers of one city would revolt

against the French if the citizens witness[ed] their sister

cities being burnt ... they plotted to burn all three together.

Four weeks before the conflagrations, the French lit torches

on the highest points of all three cities to determine whether

the flames would be visible from one city to the next. The

result of this test was positive, and they subsequently

burned all three cities at once.

And we, the children of Worms, were forced to abandon

our homes and our properties and witness the destruction

of our holy community and forsake the holy synagogue.

We, the Jews of Worms, have remained scattered and

separated. May God have mercy upon us and protect all

Israel from the hand of the enemy. May He lead us all

together, through the Messiah, to Jerusalem, Amen"