Jews murder Christian children for their blood
| Jews murder Christian children for their blood | |
|---|---|
| FALSE | |
| "Jews kill Christian children to use their blood in religious rituals, such as making matzah for Passover." | |
| Domain | Culture, Religion & Society |
| Tactic | Fabrication Propaganda Technique |
| Era | Historical |
| First seen | 1144 |
| Origin | Accusations that began in medieval England, starting with the death of William of Norwich in 1144, and spread across Europe, leading to massacres; later revived in modern antisemitic propaganda |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-27 |
| Further reading: books on Culture, Religion & Society | |
The accusation that Jews murder Christian children for their blood, known as the blood libel, is one of the oldest and most destructive antisemitic falsehoods. It began in 12th-century England after the death of a boy named William in Norwich and spread throughout Europe. The accusation led to torture, executions and massacres of Jewish communities over centuries. There is no basis for the claim; Jewish law forbids murder and prohibits consuming any blood. Popes, including Innocent IV in 1247, condemned the accusation, yet it persisted into the 20th century and was used in Nazi propaganda. It continues to circulate in antisemitic material today.
What the evidence shows
- Origins. The monk Thomas of Monmouth wrote an account in the 1150s claiming that Jews had killed William of Norwich. His story contained no credible evidence.
- Spread. Similar accusations followed in England, France, Germany, Spain and elsewhere. The 1255 case of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln led to the execution of 19 Jews.
- Religious law. Jewish dietary law prohibits eating blood, and the Torah forbids murder, making the accusation contrary to Jewish practice.
- Condemnations. Pope Innocent IV and later popes condemned the libel. In modern times, the Catholic Church has repudiated it, and some local cults of supposed child victims have been suppressed.
- Modern use. The accusation reappeared in trials such as the Beilis case in Russia in 1913, where the defendant was acquitted, and in Nazi publications such as Der Stürmer.
Why it persists
The blood libel combines fear for children's safety with religious hostility and conspiracy thinking. It has been spread by authorities and propagandists seeking scapegoats. Variants of its themes appear in modern conspiracy theories about secret groups harming children.
Lessons for readers
- Accusations that target an entire group are a warning sign.
- Lies can cause violence for centuries.
- Claims about secret rituals often reveal more about accusers' fears than about the accused.
- Official condemnations may not end a myth that serves political purposes.
See also
Sources
- E. M. Rose, The Murder of William of Norwich: The Origins of the Blood Libel in Medieval Europe (Oxford University Press, 2015).
- Alan Dundes, ed., The Blood Libel Legend: A Casebook in Anti-Semitic Folklore (University of Wisconsin Press, 1991).