Language:
Russian
Year of publication:
2004
Titel der Quelle:
Вестник Еврейского университета
Angaben zur Quelle:
27 (2004) 69-114
Keywords:
Beilis, Mendel,
;
Hilsner, Leopold,
;
Blood accusation
;
Blood accusation
;
Antisemitism History 20th century
;
Antisemitism History 19th century
;
Jews History 1881-1917
;
Jews History 19th century
Abstract:
Examines the Beilis trial held in Kiev in 1911-13. Contends that the goal of those who organized this deception was to provide a modern framework for the accusation of ritual murder and to make it accessible to regular judicial procedure. It was with this goal in mind that the prosecution insisted on obtaining the opinion of the Catholic Church, rather than the Russian Church, on ritual murder, called on a host of experts, and tried to influence the jury emotionally. The defense resorted to the best possible tactic: to compel the prosecution to prove the actuality of ritual murder. The prosecution failed to do so, and the "ritual" trial was downgraded to an ordinary murder trial. Notes that the prosecution at the Beilis trial manifested predictions made by Ze'ev Jabotinsky in his article "Instead of Apology", that antisemites would modernize the blood libel and the best defense is to compel them to prove it. The organizers of the Beilis trial followed the pattern of the Hilsner trial in Polná, Bohemia (1899), which was far from having been resolved at the time of the Beilis trial (Hilsner was finally pardoned in 1918).
Note:
With an English summary.
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
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