Blood Libels Against Jews? Not So Long Ago
Blood libels about using Christian blood for matzah may sound archaic, but at a recent anti-Semitism conference in Ukraine, the grandson of Mendel Beilis recounted his grandfather's experience as a victim of a libel that shook European Jewry a century ago: the Beilis Trial.
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At an international conference against anti-Semitism held recently in Kyiv, Ukraine, Joe Beilis from New Jersey spoke about the blood libel charged against his grandfather, Mendel Beilis, which later became known as the "Beilis Trial" and shocked the Jews of Ukraine in the early 20th century.
On the morning of March 25, 1911, Andrei Yushchinsky left his home for school and never returned. Days later, his stabbed body was discovered in a cave. The incident occurred close to Passover, which was used as "clear evidence" that the murder was for religious ritual purposes: using Christian blood for matzah, pointing the accusing finger at a Jew named Mendel Beilis.
"The blood libel against my grandfather was a warning sign for Jews, much like Kristallnacht. A sign that one should leave to survive," said Joe Beilis at the conference. The event was dedicated to the memory of Beilis, and his grandson came especially from New Jersey for this purpose.
Mendel Beilis spent two and a half years in prison while the authorities made extensive efforts to find more credible evidence to charge him. After a trial filled with false testimonies and baseless claims, he was acquitted and returned to his home and children.
"My grandfather's story represents one of the foundations of anti-Semitism, yet I haven’t heard a word about it from the State of Israel," lamented the grandson. "He lived eight years in Israel—why wasn’t he recognized? Not even a commemorative stamp was issued."
"My grandfather made a significant contribution to the Jewish people," said Beilis. "Many Eastern European Jews moved to safer places due to the libel and were saved." During the esteemed conference, Beilis's grandson urged Israel to take steps to remember his grandfather's story, which is essentially the story of the entire Jewish people.
