Bread of Affliction / Bread of Salvation: What was the Blood Libel really about?

In the catalogues of calumny visited upon the Jews in the Middle Ages, three accusations distinguish themselves by their particular virulence. The first two are long-standing accusations of late antique provenance; the third developed its strongest articulation in the years following the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215. We will explore the ritual murder accusation, the host desecration libel and the blood libel in history and art and attempt to understand the psychological roots and implications of each.

This talk can stand alone, 
or you may enjoy it as part of the series 

"Jews and Christians in Dialogue, Argument & Art" 

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   © Marc Michael Epstein 2012