For centuries, Jews have been accused of something called "blood libel" or "ritual murder" the killing of non-Jews, often children, to use their blood in bizarre religious ceremonies or to make food. As far back as 300 BC, writers have asserted that Jews sacrificed human beings in their religious practice, but it was not until the Middle Ages that such charges became the basis for civil action. Blood libel trials resulted in many Jewish deaths. Naturally, Jews have denied such charges. The Bible, they said, forbids killing and prohibits the use of blood. Anyone making such claims is merely whipping up anti-Semitism and inciting anti-Jewish action. Even today, the mainstream view is that all such charges are mere "anti-Semitic canards" comprising a most dangerous sort of Jew-hatred. Blood libel, say the Jews, has no basis in fact. But is that true? Until recently, few would have disagreed. But then in the early 2000s, a Jewish-Italian historian, Ariel Toaff, undertook extensive research into the matter. He concluded that not all blood libel cases could be automatically dismissed, and that certain sects of Ashkenazi Jews may well have manifested their hatred of Gentiles in a ritual use of non-Jewish blood. Blood libel, it seems, has a substantial factual basis. Passovers of Blood is certainly one of the most controversial books of the 21st century. If certain Jews did--and perhaps still do--harbor an intense hatred of Gentiles, and if they did--and perhaps still do--use human blood in certain religious rituals, then this has very ominous implications for present-day relations between Jews and non-Jews around the world.

Passovers of Blood

History

Toaff, Ariel

World

Clemens & Blair, LLC

Umbria was an important geographical and political entity in Italy during the late Middle Ages and was always linked to the Papal State. This text considers the place of the Jews in the religious, social and economic context of the region and discusses their mentality and family life. It illustrates the relationships of the Jewish communities with the political powers and the Church from the second half of the 13th century, while Jewish settlement became permanent and continuous, until their expulsion was decreed by Pope Pius in 1569. The author reconstructs the everyday life of the Jews within the context of historical anthropology and sociology.

Love, Work, and Death: Jewish Life in Medieval Umbria (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization)

Europe

The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization

Accolto al suo primo apparire da vivaci discussioni e aspre polemiche, questo libro è qui riproposto in una nuova edizione che l'autore ha arricchito con un attento lavoro di chiarimento e approfondimento e con una stringente difesa dei metodi e dei risultati della propria ricerca. Oggetto dell'indagine è il mondo dell'ebraismo ashkenazita medievale, nel quale credenze popolari imbevute di superstizione e magia e di viscerali sentimenti anticristiani configurano una diffusa "cultura del sangue" contrastante con i precetti biblici e rabbinici. In questa cultura trova posto anche una ritualità religiosa stravolta, che porge suo malgrado argomenti alla calunnia dell'omicidio rituale, la terribile "accusa del sangue" origine di tante persecuzioni antiebraiche. E proprio nelle confessioni estorte nei processi per omicidio rituale (come quello famoso celebrato a Trento per la morte del piccolo Simonino) questa cultura viene in qualche modo alla luce. Scavando attorno allo "stereotipo calunnioso" dell'omicidio rituale Toaff fa così emergere una diversa immagine, per molti aspetti inedita, di quelle comunità e fornisce un contributo innovativo alla conoscenza dell'ebraismo europeo.

Pasque di sangue. Ebrei d'Europa e omicidi rituali

Il Mulino

This work is based mainly on documentation preserved in the archives of Umbria. It illustrates the political and socio-economic history of the Jewish community from the second half of the thirteenth century, when Jewish settlement in the region became permanent and continuous, to the expulsion of the Jews in 1569 decreed by Pope Pius V. Umbria was an important geographical and political entity in central Italy during the late Middle Ages and was always linked to the Papal State. The documents provide us with important information that enables us to appreciate correctly the Jews' economic role in the region and their relationships with the political powers (the communes and the popes) and the Mendicant orders. Furthermore, they enlighten us on aspects of the Jews' daily life, and on their relationship with Christian society.

The Jews in Umbria, Volume 1 (1245-1435): Documentary History of the Jews in Italy (Studia Post Biblica)

BRILL

This work is mainly based on documentation preserved in the archives of Umbria. It illustrates the political and socio-economic history of the Jewish community from the second half of the 13th century, when Jewish settlement in the region became permanent and continuous, to the expulsion of the Jews in 1569 decreed by Pope Pius V. Umbria was an important geographical and political entity in central Italy during the late Middle Ages and was always linked to the Papal State. The documents provide information that enables the reader to appreciate the Jews' economic role in the region and their relationships with the political powers (the communes and the popes) and the Mendicant orders. They also enlighten the reader on aspects of the Jews' daily life, and on their relationship with Christian society.

The Jews in Umbria, Volume 2 (1435-1484): Documentary History of the Jews in Italy (Studia Post Biblica)

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Books by Toaff, Ariel

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Toaff, Ariel. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Passovers of Blood

Love, Work, and Death: Jewish Life in Medieval Umbria (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization)

Love, Work, and Death: Jewish Life in Medieval Umbria (The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization)

Pasque di sangue. Ebrei d'Europa e omicidi rituali

The Jews in Umbria, Volume 1 (1245-1435): Documentary History of the Jews in Italy (Studia Post Biblica)

The Jews in Umbria, Volume 2 (1435-1484): Documentary History of the Jews in Italy (Studia Post Biblica)