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Sarah Palin Is Right About 'Blood Libel': Judaism rejects collective responsibility for murder
The Wall Street Journal ^ | January 14, 2011 | Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Posted on 01/13/2011 4:00:39 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

The term "blood libel"—which Sarah Palin invoked this week to describe the suggestions by journalists and politicians that conservative figures like herself are responsible for last weekend's shooting rampage in Tucson, Ariz.—is fraught with perilous meaning in Jewish history.

The term connotes the earliest accusations that Jews killed Jesus and enthusiastically embraced responsibility for his murder, telling Pontius Pilate, "His blood be upon us and our children" (Matthew 27:25). Thus was born the legend of Jewish bloodlust and of Hebrew ritual use of Christian blood for sacramental purposes. The term was later used more specifically to describe accusations against Jews—primarily in Europe—of sacrificing kidnapped Christian children to use their blood in the baking of Passover matzos.

The Benedictine monk Thomas of Monmouth is generally credited with having popularized the blood libel in his "Life of the Martyr William from Norwich," written in 1173 about a young boy who was found stabbed to death. Thomas quoted a servant woman who said she witnessed Jews lacerating the boy's head with thorns, crucifying him, and piercing his side. While William was canonized, the Jews of Norwich fared less well. On Feb. 6, 1190, they were all found slaughtered in their homes, save those who escaped to the local tower and committed mass suicide.

Despite the strong association of the term with collective Jewish guilt and concomitant slaughter, Sarah Palin has every right to use it. The expression may be used whenever an amorphous mass is collectively accused of being murderers or accessories to murder....

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arizona; bloodlibel; collectiveguilt; freepressforpalin; giffords; judaism; msm; palin; sarahpalin; tucson
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To: lentulusgracchus

What about the congresswoman who is a Jew?


21 posted on 01/13/2011 5:39:45 PM PST by captnorb
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To: Red Boots; goldstategop

“The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by quoting this proverb upon the soil of Israel, ‘Parents eat sour grapes and their children’s teeth are set of edge’? As I live- declares the Lord God- this proverb shall no longer be current among you in Israel. Consider, all lives are Mine; the life of the parent and the life of the child are both Mine. The person who sins, only he shall die”. Ezekiel 18, 1-4


22 posted on 01/13/2011 5:55:01 PM PST by kenavi (The good ol' US of A: 57 state laboratories for the future.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

bump


23 posted on 01/13/2011 6:58:25 PM PST by Hunton Peck ("Round up the usual Tea Partiers!")
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To: goldstategop

Remember, “It takes a village to raise a child”?


24 posted on 01/13/2011 9:24:36 PM PST by Prussianone
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To: skeeter

We shall never tire...


25 posted on 01/13/2011 9:28:53 PM PST by RedWing9 (Zero sucks... Jesus Rocks...)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The phrase “blood libel” is not on most people’s radar. For me, this criticism of Palin came out of left field.


26 posted on 01/13/2011 9:40:31 PM PST by newzjunkey
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
I can't see myself supporting Mrs. Palin in the primaries next year, and I see no way that she could win the general election. However, she does not deserve the despicable attacks that have come from the left (and occasionally the right) in the aftermath of this incident. This commentary is rational and intelligent. Thanks for posting this one.
27 posted on 01/13/2011 9:57:54 PM PST by WFTR (Liberty isn't for cowards)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just for fun, check out what Palin has said about Israel with what Obama has said (and done) in regard to Israel.


28 posted on 01/14/2011 8:41:33 AM PST by LoneStarC
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To: captnorb
I don't understand your question. What about her? You mean Giffords, right?
29 posted on 01/14/2011 5:47:26 PM PST by lentulusgracchus (Concealed carry is a pro-life position.)
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