It’s not often that concepts from Medieval or Early Modern history enter contemporary political discourse, but “blood libel” did today. The term refers to the myth that Jews ritually murdered Christians, especially children, and especially at Passover. The first example is from twelfth-century England, where the accusation was made after a young boy, William of Norwich, went missing and was later found dead. He became the object of religious devotion. The story eventually found its way into Canterbury Tales.

The Blood Libel had a long history after that. Among the most famous was Simon of Trent, in 1475. R. Po Chia Hsia wrote a book-length study placing this event in the larger historical and religious context. The Myth of Ritual Murder is worth reading.

There have been several discussions of the historical meaning of the term in today’s media.  Salon provides background, including quotes from Hsia.

Here’s a contemporary woodcut of Simon of Trent:

The Blood Libel persisted long after trials ended around 1600 (they were repeatedly denounced by both secular and religious authorities in Europe). In fact, there was an accusation in New York state in the early twentieth century.

While completely baseless, the myth of the Blood Libel points to the depths of Christian anti-Judaism, and later to Antisemitism. And it continues to resonate.