Blood Libel

So how many know what blood libel means? I had to run to Google for an explanation.

Too bad Sarah didn’t run to Google for a few definitions before she opened her ignorant mouth. Hey, Sarah, bet you never heard the expression before. I know it wasn’t exactly an expression that rolled of my tongue.

Blood libel refers to a false accusation or claim. Religious minorities, usually Jews, murder children to use their blood in certain aspects of their religious rituals and holidays. Historically, these claims have—alongside those of well poisoning and host desecration—been a major theme in European persecution of Jews.

The libels typically allege that Jews require human blood for the baking of matzos for Passover. The accusations often assert that the blood of Christian children is especially coveted, and, historically, blood libel claims have been made to account for otherwise unexplained deaths of children. In some cases, the alleged victim of human sacrifice has become venerated as a martyr, a holy figure around whom a martyr cult might arise. A few of these have been even canonized as saints.