Dear Friend,
As we stand between Purim and Passover, I am reminded of their joint theme: Throughout the generations, people have sought to subjugate and destroy our people. Yet human action and divine destiny always ensure that we endure and flourish.
Just over a century ago, around this time of year, the body of a young boy was discovered on the outskirts of Kiev, Ukraine, and the highest echelons of the czarist government conspired to falsely accuse a Jew, Mendel Beilis, of murdering the child to use his blood to bake matzah.
Chabad.org has just released a documentary film featuring new research into the case. Expert interviews, period press cuttings, and original photographs bring the story and its dramatic cast of characters to life. Click here to watch the film, and here to learn more about the trial.
Even today, the blood libel is used to fuel anti-Semitic agitation, and there are still those who threaten the world with evil. The Beilis case is more than an interesting historical episode; it’s a compelling lesson about the human capacity to stand up for truth and justice in the face of hate and power.
May we celebrate Passover, “the season of our freedom,” knowing that our positive actions bring redemption to the entire world.
Eli Rubin,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team
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the season May we celebrate Passover, “the season of our freedom,” knowing that our positive actions bring redemption to the entire world. Is a wonderful saying. It is always a tragedy for someone innocent to suffer. Remembering the struggles of people before us..everyone has their season...positive action is always good to hear.
Thank you for showing this video... thankfully it ended with justice for an innocent man but at the same time what an injustice for Mr. Beilis and his family for over two years of terrifying and outrageous accusations.... and it is preposterous that this case went all the way to the end of a trial with out a shred of evidence and with ridiculous allegations of blood libel, an act which has never been any part of the Jewish culture, traditions or religion. These allegations were all out of thin air. Well he only needed six votes to be acquitted and he had exactly that so G-d had his hand in liberating Mr. Beilis from evil... like Gideon who won the battle with only 300 men so that it would be obvious that G-d had saved everyone from the evil Midianites, Beilis was acquitted with just enough jurors. We need to stand up for those who are innocent and falsely accused and do what we can to keep the judicial system uncompromised and to protect Jews from false accusations and crimes.
I would also just like to add that I am from a very large community who love the Jewish people.
I am an English Romani, we too often suffer great persecution pretty often because we don't speak up for our rights. Recently there was a documentary on television supposedly about my people but my friends and I have never heard of such rubbish.
So as usual a whole community are tared with lies that cause hate few stand up for justice and therefore hate spreads. When I read about great men in the bible Isaiah, Daniel, Jeremiah.
These were men who stood for what they believed
Shalom
I'm impressed by your contribution to the wider world of Jewish learning and how an understanding of the past brought up to the date helps us see what needs to be done, for a viable future as a creative minority.
Victim's Name It is interesting that you name the Jewish victim of the Blood Libel, Mendel Beilis, but not that of the alleged victim; this is a "blood libel" all over again.
yes, but... What do we do when we fight for justice, deny false accusations, endure crimes against ourselves that we can't stop and after all the effort to report, renew our determination to not join in exagerations and hatred, renew our health after the damage done to us, we are left with no more than the hope they at least heard us and will now leave us alone? When we see the law fail, are laughed at and taunted for our belief in the law written in the law books in a country like the US which is so powerful, when the local good-old-boys are waiting for a chance to punish us for reporting their crimes, how does it do anybody any good for us to be good? Affirming our position, reporting crimes, telling the truth, all weaken our position. How can this be right to do? Where are the others who wrote the laws and expect us to believe and obey them?
Feeling Proud and Being Strong and faithful the dogma and heritage empowers everybody to feel accomplished .With some such as the jewish people it is an inherited heritage , maintained throughout the milleniums of years .
In their unity is their strength , in their faith a continuing guiding light .
How do they succeed ...The world knows best
Mendel Beilis
This is story is available in book form:
Scapegoat on Trial: The Story of Mendel Beilis [Paperback] from Amazon and probably other companies.
Just please also remember that there are many many people on this globe - that love Israel and the Jewish people . We have a G-d that unite us and we will always keep you in our prayers. Shalom
The false story about using a child's blood to make matzos
Prior to Pesach, have a television programme, of exactly what ingredients are used for making matzos. Then demonstrate exactly how it is made, ever since the time the jewish nation were freed by (with thanks to Hashem) from Egypt.
Hopefully, those who are mislead by these evil rumour, will then see that it is a pack of outrageous lies.
It good to know that the blood libel is an age old tradition of anti- Semitics and this knowledge has added strength to my spiritual being. Now am sure that such accusation against those practicing Judaism, even in my country Nigeria, is just history repeating itself. We are strong because we know that those who falsely accuse us cannot diminish three light of the Eternal in us.
Please keep up this good work of bring this generation of Jews worldwide to their root.
What is the divine destiny if not to be free peoples.
Thank you for doing this work. It is invaluable material for education of our kids. Growing up in Communist Russia I was well informed about the case. Jews talked about it to each other in hushed tones. It is great to have actual archival material at my disposal when I relate this story to my children
Revisiting Beilis Although I wasn't aware of this particular case, can you believe this blood libel business throughout history is still mentioned and taken as fact?
I am a gentile. I pray G-d almighty that the jewish people fulfill their mission of being a people of priests, the Light for all the nations. Blessings.
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