The Rabbi of Worms

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Six-year-old Josef is tormented by bullies. He is rescued from his misery by an older boy, Mosche, who lives in the Jewish quarter of Worms, a city on the Rhein River. The two boys and Mosche’s sister Miriam become friends, spending time together as Mosche teaches Josef to read. Miriam herself learns eagerly, though few of her eleventh-century contemporaries think it desirable to educate girls.

The boys are excited to meet the beloved Rabbi Scholomo of Troyes. He is called “the rabbi of Worms” by the local Jews since he once studied and taught in their city.

Josef and Mosche maintain their friendship, even as “citizen armies” of Christians inflict violence on Jews during the early days of the First Crusade. In a dangerous and chaotic time, Rabbi Scholomo’s teachings provide help and solace to those who face horrible dilemmas.

“Jews and Christians alike will easily identify with the characters living through this turning point in Jewish-Christian relations, as the Crusades moved through Europe and renegade elements killed Jews and destroyed their communities in the Rhein valley. Readers will understand better how the violence a thousand years earlier gave rise to the massacres of Jews in Nazi Germany.”
—Judy Hogan, author of Farm Fresh and Fatal

“Though this is a marvelous, gripping, well-researched historical novel, somehow it doesn’t seem quite right to call M. K. Hammond’s book a ‘historical novel.’ In her narration, the eleventh century Rabbi of Worms speaks to each of us with a compelling, faithful message that challenges us today. A timely, wonderfully written novel!”
—Will Willimon, professor, Duke Divinity School, North Carolina

“The Rabbi of Worms is historical fiction at its best. M. K. Hammond has written an engaging story set in accurately depicted late eleventh-century Germany. The characters’ conversations about Christianity and Judaism convey rich details of medieval religious practice that are integral to the characters’ friendships. The work would be an asset for anyone interested in learning about Medieval Europe.”
—Mary Jane Morrow, professor, Duke University, North Carolina

Former math teacher and newspaper columnist M. K. Hammond now spends her time writing, teaching Bible studies at church, and singing Jewish music with a community chorale. Her previous book, an epistolary novel called Balm in Gilead/Writings of Jeremiah, was published by Resource Publications in 2007.