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In the 1840s, a Jewish Outreach Effort Led to Real Change; It Can Happen Today
On February 5, 1840, the Jewish community of Damascus was rocked by an accusation that exploded onto the consciousness of the Levant and soon began to reverberate around the world.
An Italian priest, Padre Tommaso, and his servant Ibrahim Amara, had disappeared, and local Christians were quick to accuse the Jewish community of murdering them to use their blood for Passover—an accusation based on an ancient and baseless charge that Jews need gentile blood for the preparation of matzah for Seder night.
The local authorities in Damascus, then under Ottoman rule, immediately arrested several prominent Jews and subjected them to cruel torture to extract confessions. This incident, known as the Damascus Affair, plunged the Jewish community in Syria into a state of fear and despair.
The charges were completely unfounded, rooted in a long history of antisemitic blood libels designed to incite violence and hatred against Jews. Despite the spurious nature of the accusations, the situation grew increasingly dire as torture-induced confessions were used to justify further persecution, and the Jewish community faced widespread violence.
Padre Tommaso, a Capuchin friar who had been living in Damascus for many years, was known for his work as a physician, frequently interacting with the diverse communities of the city. Despite his professional engagements and spiritual calling, Padre Tommaso harbored intense anti-Jewish sentiments and had a long history of stirring trouble against the Jews. His sudden disappearance—and the fact that he was never seen again, neither dead nor alive—provided a convenient pretext for those seeking to incite further antisemitic fervor.
The role of the French consul in Damascus, Ulysse de Ratti-Menton, was particularly insidious. He played a pivotal and pernicious role in escalating the Damascus Affair, actively encouraging and supporting the accusations against the Jewish community and lending his official status and influence to validate the baseless charges. Ratti-Menton sanctioned the use of torture to extract confessions from the arrested Jews. His approval and encouragement of these brutal methods led to the forced confessions, which were then used to further incriminate the Jewish community.
As news of the Damascus Affair spread beyond the Middle East, the global Jewish community recognized the urgency of the situation. Among the most notable figures who rose to the occasion was Sir Moses Montefiore, the distinguished British Jewish philanthropist and communal leader. Montefiore coupled his devout observance of Judaism with a pragmatic understanding that achieving results required a strategic blend of faith, diplomacy, and advocacy.
Montefiore, together with Adolphe Crémieux, a French Jewish lawyer and president of the Consistoire Central Israélite de France, embarked on a diplomatic mission that took them to Alexandria and then to Constantinople, where they sought the intervention of the Ottoman Sultan.
Their primary goal was to ensure the release of the imprisoned Jews and to put an end to the baseless blood libel accusations. Montefiore leveraged his extensive network of connections, engaging with influential political figures such as the British Prime Minister, Lord Palmerston, and key members of the French government. His diplomatic efforts brought significant international attention to the plight of the Jews in Damascus, highlighting the need for justice and protection.
Long before the advent of social media and live-streaming TV, Sir Moses Montefiore understood the power of public opinion. He organized petitions and mobilized Jewish communities across Europe, who rallied in support, sending letters and appeals to their respective governments, urging them to take action against the injustice being perpetrated in Damascus. Ultimately, Montefiore and Crémieux’s relentless efforts led to the release of the imprisoned Jews and a firman (royal decree) from the Ottoman Sultan, reaffirming the rights and protection of Jews under Ottoman rule.
Even Martin Van Buren, the eighth president resident of the United States, played a role in responding to the Damascus Affair. When news of the event reached America, due to Montefiore’s extraordinary efforts to get the truth out as widely as possible, the Jewish community in the United States sought governmental intervention. In response to a petition from the Jewish community, Van Buren instructed the US consul in Egypt, Colonel David Porter, to make representations to the Ottoman government in support of the persecuted Jews in Damascus.
The parallels between the Damascus Affair and what is happening right now in the aftermath of the October 7th massacre are too numerous and too obvious to ignore. Once again, the blood libel against Jews—falsely accused of genocide against Palestinians—has gathered pace and exploded onto the international consciousness.
Jews around the world are being punished for the perceived “crimes” of their coreligionists in Israel, and the knives are out for Jews everywhere. The glee with which antisemites have seized upon the anti-Israel narrative, while far worse crimes against humanity continue to blot the international scene, says more about the endurance of the world’s oldest hatred than it does about anything that Israel has done, now or ever.
But it is the lesson of Sir Moses Montefiore in the wake of the Damascus Affair that must inspire us all. The man who said, “Never be afraid to do what is right and just; we are not alone,” and “We must do our duty, and leave the rest to God,” understood that when everything seems to conspire against justice and truth, and when those who revel in lies and falsehood appear to have the upper hand—that is exactly the time when we must use our faith reserves along with every advocacy resource we have as the platform to fight back. God is truth, and God always prevails.
In Parshat Behaalotecha, we encounter the powerful verses of “Vayehi Binesoa Ha’aron,” which describe the journey of the Ark of the Covenant as the Israelites traveled through the desert (Num. 10:35): וַיְהִי בִּנְסֹעַ הָאָרֹן וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה קוּמָה ה’ וְיָפֻצוּ אֹיְבֶיךָ וְיָנֻסוּ מְשַׂנְאֶיךָ מִפָּנֶיךָ — “When the Ark set out, Moses would say: ‘Arise, God, may Your enemies be scattered; may Your foes flee before You.’”
These verses symbolize the divine presence guiding and protecting the Jewish people throughout their journey. According to Rashi, the preeminent medieval Jewish commentator, the scattering of enemies symbolizes the overcoming of obstacles and adversaries of the Jewish people through divine intervention.
Ramban (Nachmanides) adds, based on a passage in the Talmud, that these verses are like a separate book within the Torah, a reminder that God’s presence is central to Jewish success and survival, providing both physical protection and spiritual guidance.
Drawing from the strength of our heritage, and inspired by the enduring example of proactive faith and advocacy demonstrated by heroes like Sir Moses Montefiore, we must confront the challenges of today with renewed determination.
The lessons from Parshat Behaalotecha remind us that divine guidance accompanies those who believe in and pursue righteousness and justice, even when the world seems to have gone mad and abandoned reason. By standing united and maintaining our faith, we can ensure that truth and righteousness will ultimately prevail.
The parallels between the Damascus Affair and the current crisis facing Jews globally are striking. Once again, we are called to stand firm in our faith and advocate fiercely for justice as we suffer the torture of blood libels and inexplicable hatred.
The enduring power of “Vayehi Binesoa Ha’aron” teaches us that with divine guidance and proactive leadership, we can overcome adversity. And we will. Just as the efforts of Sir Moses Montefiore, like those of his illustrious namesake Moses, led to the triumph of truth and justice in the aftermath of the Damascus Affair, so too our united actions will ensure that we overcome the overwhelming challenges we face.
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Hamas Says No Interim Hostage Deal Possible Without Work Toward Permanent Ceasefire
Explosions send smoke into the air in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 17, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen
The spokesperson for Hamas’s armed wing said on Friday that while the Palestinian terrorist group favors reaching an interim truce in the Gaza war, if such an agreement is not reached in current negotiations it could revert to insisting on a full package deal to end the conflict.
Hamas has previously offered to release all the hostages held in Gaza and conclude a permanent ceasefire agreement, and Israel has refused, Abu Ubaida added in a televised speech.
Arab mediators Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have hosted more than 10 days of talks on a US-backed proposal for a 60-day truce in the war.
Israeli officials were not immediately available for comment on the eve of the Jewish Sabbath.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on a call he had with Pope Leo on Friday that Israel‘s efforts to secure a hostage release deal and 60-day ceasefire “have so far not been reciprocated by Hamas.”
As part of the potential deal, 10 hostages held in Gaza would be returned along with the bodies of 18 others, spread out over 60 days. In exchange, Israel would release a number of detained Palestinians.
“If the enemy remains obstinate and evades this round as it has done every time before, we cannot guarantee a return to partial deals or the proposal of the 10 captives,” said Abu Ubaida.
Disputes remain over maps of Israeli army withdrawals, aid delivery mechanisms into Gaza, and guarantees that any eventual truce would lead to ending the war, said two Hamas officials who spoke to Reuters on Friday.
The officials said the talks have not reached a breakthrough on the issues under discussion.
Hamas says any agreement must lead to ending the war, while Netanyahu says the war will only end once Hamas is disarmed and its leaders expelled from Gaza.
Almost 1,650 Israelis and foreign nationals have been killed as a result of the conflict, including 1,200 killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies. Over 250 hostages were kidnapped during Hamas’s Oct. 7 onslaught.
Israel responded with an ongoing military campaign aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities in neighboring Gaza.
The post Hamas Says No Interim Hostage Deal Possible Without Work Toward Permanent Ceasefire first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Iran Marks 31st Anniversary of AMIA Bombing by Slamming Argentina’s ‘Baseless’ Accusations, Blaming Israel
People hold images of the victims of the 1994 bombing attack on the Argentine Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) community center, marking the 30th anniversary of the attack, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, July 18, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Irina Dambrauskas
Iran on Friday marked the 31st anniversary of the 1994 bombing of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) Jewish community center in Buenos Aires by slamming Argentina for what it called “baseless” accusations over Tehran’s alleged role in the terrorist attack and accusing Israel of politicizing the atrocity to influence the investigation and judicial process.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the anniversary of Argentina’s deadliest terrorist attack, which killed 85 people and wounded more than 300.
“While completely rejecting the accusations against Iranian citizens, the Islamic Republic of Iran condemns attempts by certain Argentine factions to pressure the judiciary into issuing baseless charges and politically motivated rulings,” the statement read.
“Reaffirming that the charges against its citizens are unfounded, the Islamic Republic of Iran insists on restoring their reputation and calls for an end to this staged legal proceeding,” it continued.
Last month, a federal judge in Argentina ordered the trial in absentia of 10 Iranian and Lebanese nationals suspected of orchestrating the attack in Buenos Aires.
The ten suspects set to stand trial include former Iranian and Lebanese ministers and diplomats, all of whom are subject to international arrest warrants issued by Argentina for their alleged roles in the terrorist attack.
In its statement on Friday, Iran also accused Israel of influencing the investigation to advance a political campaign against the Islamist regime in Tehran, claiming the case has been used to serve Israeli interests and hinder efforts to uncover the truth.
“From the outset, elements and entities linked to the Zionist regime [Israel] exploited this suspicious explosion, pushing the investigation down a false and misleading path, among whose consequences was to disrupt the long‑standing relations between the people of Iran and Argentina,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
“Clear, undeniable evidence now shows the Zionist regime and its affiliates exerting influence on the Argentine judiciary to frame Iranian nationals,” the statement continued.
In April, lead prosecutor Sebastián Basso — who took over the case after the 2015 murder of his predecessor, Alberto Nisman — requested that federal Judge Daniel Rafecas issue national and international arrest warrants for Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei over his alleged involvement in the attack.
Since 2006, Argentine authorities have sought the arrest of eight Iranians — including former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who died in 2017 — yet more than three decades after the deadly bombing, all suspects remain still at large.
In a post on X, the Delegation of Argentine Israelite Associations (DAIA), the country’s Jewish umbrella organization, released a statement commemorating the 31st anniversary of the bombing.
“It was a brutal attack on Argentina, its democracy, and its rule of law,” the group said. “At DAIA, we continue to demand truth and justice — because impunity is painful, and memory is a commitment to both the present and the future.”
31 años del atentado a la AMIA – DAIA. 31 años sin justicia.
El 18 de julio de 1994, un atentado terrorista dejó 85 personas muertas y más de 300 heridas. Fue un ataque brutal contra la Argentina, su democracia y su Estado de derecho.
Desde la DAIA, seguimos exigiendo verdad y… pic.twitter.com/kV2ReGNTIk
— DAIA (@DAIAArgentina) July 18, 2025
Despite Argentina’s longstanding belief that Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah terrorist group carried out the devastating attack at Iran’s request, the 1994 bombing has never been claimed or officially solved.
Meanwhile, Tehran has consistently denied any involvement and refused to arrest or extradite any suspects.
To this day, the decades-long investigation into the terrorist attack has been plagued by allegations of witness tampering, evidence manipulation, cover-ups, and annulled trials.
In 2006, former prosecutor Nisman formally charged Iran for orchestrating the attack and Hezbollah for carrying it out.
Nine years later, he accused former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner — currently under house arrest on corruption charges — of attempting to cover up the crime and block efforts to extradite the suspects behind the AMIA atrocity in return for Iranian oil.
Nisman was killed later that year, and to this day, both his case and murder remain unresolved and under ongoing investigation.
The alleged cover-up was reportedly formalized through the memorandum of understanding signed in 2013 between Kirchner’s government and Iranian authorities, with the stated goal of cooperating to investigate the AMIA bombing.
The post Iran Marks 31st Anniversary of AMIA Bombing by Slamming Argentina’s ‘Baseless’ Accusations, Blaming Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Jordan Reveals Muslim Brotherhood Operating Vast Illegal Funding Network Tied to Gaza Donations, Political Campaigns
Murad Adailah, the head of Jordan’s Muslim Brotherhood, attends an interview with Reuters in Amman, Jordan, Sept. 7, 2024. Photo: REUTERS/Jehad Shelbak
The Muslim Brotherhood, one of the Arab world’s oldest and most influential Islamist movements, has been implicated in a wide-ranging network of illegal financial activities in Jordan and abroad, according to a new investigative report.
Investigations conducted by Jordanian authorities — along with evidence gathered from seized materials — revealed that the Muslim Brotherhood raised tens of millions of Jordanian dinars through various illegal activities, the Jordan news agency (Petra) reported this week.
With operations intensifying over the past eight years, the report showed that the group’s complex financial network was funded through various sources, including illegal donations, profits from investments in Jordan and abroad, and monthly fees paid by members inside and outside the country.
The report also indicated that the Muslim Brotherhood has taken advantage of the war in Gaza to raise donations illegally.
Out of all donations meant for Gaza, the group provided no information on where the funds came from, how much was collected, or how they were distributed, and failed to work with any international or relief organizations to manage the transfers properly.
Rather, the investigations revealed that the Islamist network used illicit financial mechanisms to transfer funds abroad.
According to Jordanian authorities, the group gathered more than JD 30 million (around $42 million) over recent years.
With funds transferred to several Arab, regional, and foreign countries, part of the money was allegedly used to finance domestic political campaigns in 2024, as well as illegal activities and cells.
In April, Jordan outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s most vocal opposition group, and confiscated its assets after members of the Islamist movement were found to be linked to a sabotage plot.
The movement’s political arm in Jordan, the Islamic Action Front, became the largest political grouping in parliament after elections last September, although most seats are still held by supporters of the government.
Opponents of the group, which is banned in most Arab countries, label it a terrorist organization. However, the movement claims it renounced violence decades ago and now promotes its Islamist agenda through peaceful means.
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