08 February 2007
A Jewish academic has shocked Italy by stating that Jews murdered Christians during the Middle Ages so that their blood could be used in ritualistic ceremonies. The details were revealed in Wednesday's "Corriere Della Sera" newspaper, which published extracts of the book by Ariel Toaff from Bar Ian University of Jerusalem, entitled "Easter of Blood. European Jews and ritual homicides". His claims were denied by leading Jewish figures including his father Elio, the former chief rabbi of Rome. In the book, Toaff describes the mutilation and crucification of a two-year-old boy to recreate Christ's execution at Pesach. He states that Christian blood was used for "magic and therapeutic practices''. In some cases the blood was mixed with dough to make matzos, unleavened bread that is eaten at Pesach. He says the acts took place in the German-speaking areas bordering modern-day Austria. The professor bases his book on confessions he says came from Jews captured and put on trial for the practice, which took place from the 12th to the 16th centuries. Toaff writes that several confessed to the crucifixion of Christian children and that they were executed.
The claims in the book were immediately condemned by Jewish leaders in Rome. They stated: "There has never existed in the Jewish tradition any ritual involving human blood. It is improper to use the declarations extracted under torture hundreds of years ago to construct theories as original as they are aberrant. The only blood split in these stories was that of many innocent Jews killed for unjust accusations.'' Toaff responded: "This declaration is a disgrace, before judging they should have read my book and then saved themselves the bother.''
