Often I have heard of "the wandering Jew." From where does this come?

TabbyTom

According to Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase & Fable and the Oxford Companion to English Literature, the earliest mention in writing of the story of the Wandering Jew is in Roger of Wendover’s “Flores Historiarum” (a.k.a. the St Albans Abbey Chronicle), written in the first half of the 13th century. There, the Jew is said to have visited St Albans Abbey in 1228. This site has some information on the treatment of the story through the centuries. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Oracle/1720/wj.htm Jan 02 05, 7:16 PM

Arpeggionist

Jews are the most traveled people in the world, as a people. The story is simply told in variations about one or another particular person. Other "Wandering Jews" included Benjamin MiTudelah, the Jewish Marco Polo, and Menasheh Ben Israel, who explored the New World and reported that he'd found the Ten Lost Tribes there. The people of Prague even described Nicolo Paganini as a "Wandering Jew" type character, for the fact that he was not the best looking man but had a good amount of skill with his violins. Jan 03 05, 2:46 AM