The Jewish community of Italy and other communities,
university scholars and Jewish organizations including the
Anti-Defamation League are up in arms against a new book by
Prof. Ariel Toaff of Bar-Ilan University titled Bloody
Passovers: The Jews of Europe and Ritual Murders.
The book hints that there may be some truth to the widespread
blood libels of the Middle Ages, including the claim Jews
killed Christians to use their blood to bake matzoh and for
medicinal purposes. The claim is based on confessions of Jews
charged with ritual murder of Christians in Central
Europe.
Toaff, considered Bar-Ilan's expert on the history of Italian
Jewry, told the Italian media that he does not believe such
murders took place, but he hinted that Jews could have
murdered Christians to exact revenge for antisemitic
persecution. Toaff complained that he has received death
threats and expressed resentment over the condemnation of his
work.
The historian's critics, who include Catholic researchers,
say he relies on confessions obtained under torture and warn
that his study could spur an outbreak of antisemitic acts in
various parts of the world.
"I don't think there is any historian who thinks there is any
truth to the blood libels," said Prof. Yisrael Yaakov Yuval,
a leading blood libel expert. "From what I understand Prof.
Toaff's interpretation was pure speculation and not based on
facts. I understand that his study claims there is an element
of truth to blood libels. If that's true, I would call the
study the first blood libel of the 21st century."
Italians are especially shocked since Toaff is the son of
Rabbi Eliyohu Toaff, the former Chief Rabbi of Rome and one
of Europe's leading Jewish leaders. Rabbi Toaff joined a
condemnation issued by the Council of Italian Rabbis.
