The blood libel is a false accusation that Jews sacrifice Christian children either to use the blood for various "medicinal" purposes or to prepare Passover matzo or for vengeance and mock crucifixions.Sounds ridiculous. Who would believe that? What a totally 17th-century-Jewish-ghetto kind of phrase, right? Wrong.
About five years ago, I went to an Easter dinner hosted by friends of my soon-to-be in- (and then ex-) laws. These people live in a nice big house in the Denver suburbs with a lot of nice white carpet and nice crystal knick knacks in nice glass and wood display cases.
They're certainly serious churchgoers, and so Easter was a pretty big deal. There was a lot of resurrection talk at the table, some pointed prayers about saving the unsaved (that would be me) and some pretty good ham.
When we were saying our goodbyes, I said, "Thank you so much for including me tonight. I'd love to have you over for Passover next month." It was a sincere invitation to share in the springtime renewal ritual I'd been doing every year since I was born. Norm's response was this, verbatim:
"Oh, right, like I'm going to let you put blood on my forehead."He was serious. I was flabbergasted. So much so that I couldn't get any more words to come out of my mouth. I mean, where do you start with something like that? I felt the not unfamiliar weight of my personal responsibility to explain the ways of my ancestors to white bread America. I figure it's payback for growing up in an all-Jewish town.
But I didn't. Nope. I did not explain how Jews don't use human blood in our mysterious and creepy rituals. I did not explain that the forehead doesn't even factor into Passover in any way, shape, or form that I know of. I didn't even explain what Passover is. I said good night and walked out.
I haven't thought about this incident in years. But here's the thing: When Palin busts out the term "blood libel," she's not just talking about being picked on by the media. She's also talking to a segment of the people in this country who still believe in things like Jews using human blood for religious rituals. And I'll come right out and say it: I think people in that segment of the population are more prone to Glock ownership than, say, most of the rest of the country.
Do you know that he meant human blood?
ReplyDeleteInterestingly enough, this business about sacrificing babies (and eating them) was something Jews said about very early Christians, back in the day, too. Apparently it's something people easily suspect of people they don't understand.
There is no way of knowing exactly what kind of blood he meant, so I suppose I'm making an assumption there. Based on a longer history than this particular incident. But an assumption nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteRight, so we're going to double down on crazy by raising the stakes with religious hate. This, this, after Giffords, a Jewish woman is shot in the head? There is no bottom to Palin, is there?
ReplyDeleteI send much love and comfort, Hollie. Thanks for being you.