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Teaching the Holocaust and other Genocides
 
Created in collaboration with the Holocaust & Human Rights Center, the NYS Education Department, and the NYS Archives Partnership Trust.

Blood Libel

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In 1144, the dead body of a boy was found on Good Friday. The boy was later referred to as William of Norwich. The testimoy of a monk was teh only record of the event. No proof was ever found to substantiate the accusation. A myth began in Egland that the Jews needed the blood of a Christian, preferably a child, during Holy Week for the preparation of matzah (the unleavened bread used for Passover.) The William murder was responsible fo the crowd attacking a Jewish delegation coming to the coronation of Richard the Lionhearted in 1189. The following year, most of the Jews of Norwich were slaughtered in the village. More accusation of ritual murders and blood libels followed the first one throughout England. Jews were eventually expelled from England in 1290, and they were not allowed to return until 1655 under Oliver Cormwell. 

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Discussion Questions: 

  1. What is your reaction to the text and images?   
  2. What are the Jews supposedly doing to the child? 
  3.  Why do you think this myth began  during Holy Week?  Why were the Jews implicated?  
  4. Describe how the Jews are portrayed in this woodcut.  Specifically, look at their facial expressions and their clothing. 
Simon of Trent Blood Libel

Illustration of the death of Simon of Trent from "The Nuremberg Chronicle" also known as "Liber chronicarum" written by Hartmann Schedel, illustrated by Wilhelm Pleydenwurff and Michael Wolgemut.