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Blood Libels, Then and Now
A still from a video posted to YouTube promoting the medieval anti-Jewish “blood libel.” Photo: Screenshot.
JNS.org – This past Wednesday was the 20th of Sivan, which was once a fast day that commemorated the first violent blood libel. (The Vaad Arba Aratzot later redesignated it to commemorate the Cossack massacres of 1648-1649.)
In 1144, 12-year-old William of Norwich was found murdered. In 1149, a Knight named Simon, on trial for murdering Eleazar, a wealthy Jew to whom he owed money, claimed in his defense that Eleazar and the Jewish community had murdered William as an act of ritual murder.
The defense won the case.
A local monk, Thomas of Monmouth, then published a book about the supposed “murder” of William of Norwich. He claimed that Jews engage in the ritual murder of Christian children in order to return to Israel. He wrote:
“As a proof of the truth and credibility of the matter we now adduce something which we have heard from the lips of Theobald, who was once a Jew and afterwards a monk. He verily told us that in the ancient writings of his fathers, it was written that the Jews, without the shedding of human blood, could neither obtain their freedom nor could they ever return to their fatherland. Hence it was laid down by them in ancient times that every year they must sacrifice a Christian in some part of the world to the Most High God in scorn and contempt of Christ so they might avenge their sufferings on Him; inasmuch as it was because of Christ’s death that they had been shut out from their own country and were in exile as slaves in a foreign land.”
Thomas of Monmouth’s blood libel circulated through Europe for nearly two decades. Then, in 1171, it became deadly. In Blois, France, a Jew and a Christian brought their horses to drink from the river. The Jew dropped an untanned hide and the horse of the Christian jumped. The Christian then claimed that the Jew had dropped a murdered baby into the river.
Count Thibault, the local ruler (and brother-in-law of the French King Louis VII) claimed that the Jewish community had committed a ritual murder. The judicial proceedings, which were based on a bizarre trial by ordeal, found the Jews guilty, even without a body or an alleged victim.
And 32 Jews were burned at the stake.
Rabbeinu Yaakov Tam, the great rabbinic leader and grandson of Rashi, then declared the 20th of Sivan a fast day. (He was 71 at the time and died a few weeks later.)
Declaring a new fast for the murdered in Blois was a major statement. No fast had been declared for the First and Second Crusades, which resulted in thousands of deaths. Rabbeinu Tam himself nearly died in the Second Crusade, but he realized that what happened in Blois was even worse. He recognized that the blood libel was a lethal form of propaganda and would cause centuries of trouble. And he was right.
E.M. Rose wrote an exceptional book on this topic, The Murder of William of Norwich: The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe. She explained that the blood libel was unique in several ways.
First, it was a theory that originated and was embraced among the educated elite, not just the unwashed masses. She wrote: “This supposed ‘irrational,’ ‘bizarre,’ ‘literary trope’ was the product of lucid, cogent arguments, thoughtfully and carefully debated in executive councils, judged in detail by sober men who were not reacting under pressure to thoughtless mob violence.”
The original blood libel started with the intelligentsia and became well-accepted.
A second element she points out is that the blood libel put every Jew on trial: “Jewish identity was on trial, rather than any single individual perpetrator.”
Every Jew was guilty until proven innocent.
The 20th of Sivan is sadly once again an important date in 2024. Once again, Israel is guilty until proven innocent. Even a hostage rescue is immediately treated as a wanton massacre of innocent civilians until Israel provides video evidence to the contrary.
Once again, leading the charge against Israel are some well-educated people—professors and students at elite universities who, in their hatred of Israel, are eager to support a group of fanatical, depraved murderers. And like Thomas of Monmouth, the testimony of individual Jews, no matter how tainted, is taken to support horrific falsehoods.
The libel of Jewish ritual murder was accepted by some of the most educated people. And that opened the door to widespread violence.
Medieval antisemites believed awful things about Jews, and that gave them license to do awful things to Jews.
But one more point: The 20th of Sivan also marks exceptional heroism. The 32 Jews who were murdered in Blois died with their heads held high.
Ephraim of Bonn, the great medieval chronicler of antisemitic persecution, wrote, “It was also reported in that letter that as the flames mounted high, the martyrs began to sing in unison a melody that began softly but ended with a full voice. The Christian people came and asked us ‘What kind of a song is this for we have never heard such a sweet melody?’ We knew it well, for it was the song: ‘It is incumbent upon us to praise the Lord of all.’” (“Aleinu” on the High Holidays is sung with a special melody.)
These martyrs died singing “Aleinu.”
This is what defiance looks like.
We are the descendants of those Jews. And we too will hold our heads high and defy Hamas and its slandering sycophants.
Originally published by Jewish Journal.
The post Blood Libels, Then and Now first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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A Christian Zionist Remembers the Holocaust, and Vows ‘Never Again’
People with Israeli flags attend the International March of the Living at the former Auschwitz Nazi German death camp, in Brzezinka near Oswiecim, Poland, May 6, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki
The sky was clear blue — a deep, beautiful Israeli blue. The landscape that stretched before me encompassed 8,000 Jewish people wending their way together toward their destination — Auschwitz, one of the most prominent extermination camps of the Nazi regime, infamous for its optimal performance of systematic murder.
This scene is forever etched in my memory, as I had the privilege to join a diverse representation of Jewish people from around the world at the 2024 “March of the Living” in Poland.
The heaviness was tangible. The ground itself seemed to groan for the atrocities that it had witnessed. It was a time of solidarity, a curious mixture of mourning for the unimaginable evils of the past, and celebrating the miracle of the very existence of the Jewish people despite centuries of hatred.
Some sang, others chattered lively, and still others wept as they walked the ground of death, hell on earth for 1.3 million people during the Holocaust.
The sanctity of that powerful moment was jarringly disrupted. Before entering the secured area for the event, I passed by the flags and angry screams of “Free Palestine.” A few moments later, I saw another rally just outside the compound: “From the River to the Sea, Palestine shall be free.”
I asked myself, “how can anti-Zionism rear its ugly head in a place grieving the tragic outcome of antisemitism?” Nevertheless, it had. Holocaust survivors witnessed an anti-Israel protest while entering Auschwitz — the iconic sight of actualized antisemitism and the embodiment of their suffering.
Anti-Israel rhetoric has become the modern-day platform for antisemitism — the deep-seated, conspiratorial hatred of the Jewish people. Because it is thinly veiled beneath slogans of political progress, modern antisemitism has been allowed to fester and thrive around the globe.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, since October 7, 2023, France and Denmark have seen more than a 1000% increase in antisemitic events, while Austria and Argentina have seen a rise of over 500%. North American antisemitic incidents have also skyrocketed.
Holocaust memorials have been vandalized with swastikas and “Free Palestine” — homes of Holocaust survivors have endured the same. Physical assault, synagogue vandalism, and harassment of Jewish students on university campuses have become regular occurrences in the name of “freeing Palestine.”
If anti-Zionism is not antisemitism, why does it so often target Jews? Where does a slogan such as “Free Gaza” and the use of Nazis Swastikas find common ground? Fundamentally, it is the same root of hatred fueling both movements and producing the same results.
The events of October 7th are nothing less than an attempt to implement the anti-Zionist call, “From the river to the Sea.” 1,200 innocent people were horrifically murdered in their homes, including men, women, and children on that day. Many were raped, burned alive, and brutally tortured. Hamas and their allies freely proclaim their intentions of committing October 7 “over and over,” as well as destroying Israel and murdering the Jewish people. And yet, many in the West dare to call these acts the result of “freedom fighting,” justified in the name of anti-Zionism.
Adolf Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf, was recently found in the tunnels and hideaways of Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. The state of Israel was not established until after Hitler’s reign. The Jewish people had no national homeland to be the target of antisemitism when Hitler put pen to paper. The same antisemitism that possessed Hitler is found in the tunnels of Gaza.
As a student at one of Canada’s most prominent universities, I have witnessed pro-Palestinian rallies at Western University, where participants jeered and targeted my Jewish peers, among other acts of hatred. This has resulted in many Jewish students feeling unsafe or insecure because of their Jewish identity.
Anti-Zionism manifests as acts and rhetoric that targets and harms Jews, rendering it foundationally inseparable from antisemitism, which is the longstanding hate that ultimately led to the Holocaust.
Reflecting on all that I have seen and experienced, as Christian believer in Jesus Christ, this reality does not surprise me. At its root, antisemitism poignantly reveals the battle — ideological, but also spiritual — that exists surrounding Israel and the Jewish people. I believe that God chose the Jewish people and set them apart to be a light for all nations. The Lord Himself promised the Jewish people the land of Israel forever, where His name is set and where the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will return to reign from Jerusalem. Scripture makes it clear that Israel is the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8), and He is zealous for this land (Deuteronomy 11:12, Psalm 105:8-11). I am obligated and committed to stand against the spiritual root of antisemitism in all its forms.
Antisemitism has disguised itself beneath numerous causes. The Crusades called it “freeing the promised land,” the Spanish Inquisition dubbed it “conversion,” and Hitler referred to it as saving the world in the preservation of the “Aryan race.” Antisemitism today defies Israel’s God-given right to exist and perpetrates centuries of hate toward the Jewish people. As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks succinctly put it, “In the Middle Ages, Jews were hated because of their religion. In the 19th and 20th centuries they were hated because of their race. Today they are hated because of their nation state, Israel. Anti-Zionism is the new anti-Semitism.”
That day at the March of the Living, standing at Auschwitz-Birkenau, I experienced a deeply spiritual moment. I had the honor of walking with the Jewish people in solidarity, as a Christian, and a God-inspired Zionist. I know the faithful character of God who promised to preserve His people. The greatest attempts of the enemy to destroy the Jewish people will ultimately fail.
“Never again” means recognizing and standing against hate even when it changes its mask. On this year’s Holocaust Remembrance Day, may the world be reminded of its vow to the Jewish people: that horrors like the Holocaust will never happen again. “Never again,” indeed, is now.
Tiauna Lodewyk is a Business student at Western University, Canada, and an Evangelical Christian actively involved pro-Israel advocacy on campus and in the Christian community.
The post A Christian Zionist Remembers the Holocaust, and Vows ‘Never Again’ first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Reflecting on the Loss of Pope Francis, and the Church’s Views of the Jewish People
Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni speaks with Pope Francis during an inter-religious prayer for peace at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Oct. 25, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Remo Casilli
This past Passover, I had the privilege to meet Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who delivered a powerful message about antisemitism and support for the Jewish community at the annual leadership seder hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) of Miami and Broward.
As an Israeli, my upbringing within an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community in Jerusalem was guided by rabbis who influenced every decision my family made, instilling in me a strong sense of identity and community. Never did I imagine that one day I would have the chance to meet a highly respected leader of the Catholic Church in Miami — the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami.
Archbishop Wenski, who served under Pope Francis — who sadly passed away this week — spoke passionately about antisemitism and reiterated his unwavering support for the Jewish people. He emphasized the evolving relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community, whom they regard as older brothers and an integral part of their collective faith. He acknowledged our shared spiritual heritage and the urgent need to foster a deeper sense of unity, respect, and commitment to combating antisemitism.
He highlighted that the teachings of various popes over the past eight decades unequivocally denounce antisemitism as a sin.
Specifically, he referenced the insights of Pope John Paul II, explaining that in the aftermath of the Holocaust, four popes — Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis — have played significant roles in reshaping the Church’s perspective. This shift has led to a noteworthy recognition of Jews as brothers in faith and a steadfast commitment to combating hate and discrimination in all its forms.
The passing of Pope Francis, marked the loss of a reformer known for his dedication to “the poorest” and his commitment to building relationships with Jewish people. On February 2, 2024, Pope Francis addressed his “Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel,” firmly denouncing any form of antisemitism as “a sin against God.”
I often remind people from all walks of life that Israel is a land where various religions can coexist harmoniously, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Druze, among others. Each of these communities contributes to the rich mosaic of our society, bringing with them their traditions, languages, and histories connected to the land of Israel.
Pope Francis will be missed — and I hope his successor will also be a stalwart for the Jewish people.
Ayelet Raymond is an Israel activist, and the creative force behind the @Kosher Barbie character and social media personality. She is also the titleholder of Miss Universe Israel Netanya,
The post Reflecting on the Loss of Pope Francis, and the Church’s Views of the Jewish People first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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The Palestinian Authority’s Plan: Flood Israel with Gaza Refugees Who Will ‘Return to Their Cities’ in Israel
Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists gather at a mourning house for Palestinians who were killed during Israel-Gaza fighting, as a ceasefire holds, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
While the future of the Gaza Strip is yet unknown, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is busy suggesting a solution that will destroy Israel as a Jewish state.
Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate the Gazan Arabs from the Gaza Strip, PA chief Mahmoud Abbas and other top PA leaders are calling for a “return” of Gazan “refugees” to places in Israel that they claim are “their homes and villages” in “Palestine”:
Mahmoud Abbas: All Palestinian “refugees” in Gaza should “return to their cities” in Israel
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: “Today, 2.3 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, of whom 1.5 million are refugees who sought refuge after they were expelled from their lands in 1948, during which they were subjected to more than 50 massacres by the Zionist terrorist gangs.
If the Americans want a solution – the only place they [the refugees] need to return to is their cities and villages from which they were expelled during the Nakba ([.e., “the catastrophe,” the establishment of Israel], to implement UN Resolution 194. … [emphasis added]
[Official PA TV News, Feb. 15, 2025]
Abbas’ advisor: Abbas said Gazans should return to “their homes and villages” in Israel
PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “[PA] President Mahmoud Abbas clearly said: If there is a possibility of the Palestinians leaving the Gaza Strip, let it be to their cities and villages from which their [Palestinian] families were expelled in 1948
… Because 75% of the residents of the Gaza Strip are originally refugees from historical Palestine. If they [Israelis] want them to leave, let them return to their homes, their cities, and their villages.” [emphasis added]
[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, March 22, 2025]
Abbas’ advisor: “Refugees” from Gaza “should return” to Israel, all else is “unrealistic, immoral, illegal”
Al-Habbash: “More than 70% of the civilians living in the Gaza Strip are refugees whose families were expelled in 1948 during the Nakba. They were expelled from Palestine. Any uprooting of them, any leaving by them from the Gaza Strip should be a return to their cities and villages from which their families were expelled in 1948.
Anything other than this is unrealistic, immoral, illegal, inhumane, unimplementable, and the Palestinians cannot agree to it.” [emphasis added]
[Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, Feb. 16, 2025]
Fatah Spokesman calls for “right of return”: Gazans should “return to land and homes” in Israel
Fatah Spokesman Abd Al-Fattah Doleh: “If they [the US and Israel] want to talk about something related to [Palestinian] migration, they should talk about the Palestinian people’s right to return to its land and homes from which it was expelled.
A large number of Gaza residents are refugees and uprooted people who need to return to their land that was occupied in 1948 and 1967. This is the only solution related to the Palestinian people’s rights, only return.” [emphasis added]
[Al-Bawaba (Egyptian news website), YouTube channel, March 11, 2025]
The Fatah Revolutionary Council issued a summary statement from a convention in February 2025, in which they also stressed that:
“Given the uprooting plans, it is necessary to implement the right of return, as explicitly stated in the UN General Assembly resolution 194 in 1949. Any return or population movement must be to the cities and villages from which our fathers and grandfathers were uprooted in 1948…” [emphasis added]
[Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 23, 2025]
Human rights activist: Palestinians have “a right” to flood Israel, “to return to their homes in the 1948” territories
Director of the Al-Haq Institute for Human Rights Sha’awan Jabarin: “We believe that it is our people’s right to enjoy freedom and independence, and it is the right of our refugees to return to their land and their homes, and I don’t mean to return only to the 1967 [territories], but rather to their homes in the 1948 [territories] [i.e., all of sovereign Israel].
I say here that this is a legal, legitimate, and fundamental right.” [emphasis added]
[Official PA TV News, March 31, 2025]
For many Arabs and Palestinians, the thought of Palestinian “refugees returning” heralds the end of Israel, something they consider a “historic right” and a “promise” that Allah will surely fulfill.
PA TV serves as platform for call for the “end of Israel”
Egyptian Al-Azhar Cleric Sheikh Yasser Mustafa Younes: “Allah willing, we will all merit to reclaim Jerusalem and all of Palestine from the occupation [Israel] and the Zionist entity, Allah willing, and they will disappear.” [emphasis added]
[Official PA TV, Palestine is Not for Sale, March 8, 2025]
The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.
The post The Palestinian Authority’s Plan: Flood Israel with Gaza Refugees Who Will ‘Return to Their Cities’ in Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.